‘‘I think that it’s extraordinarily important that we in computer science keep fun in computing. When it started out, it was an awful lot of fun. Of course, the paying customers got shafted every now and then, and after a while we began to take their complaints seriously. We began to feel as if we really were responsible for the successful, error-free perfect use of these machines. I don’t think we are. I think we’re responsible for stretching them, setting them off in new directions, and keeping fun in the house. I hope the field of computer science never loses its sense of fun. Above all, I hope we don’t become missionaries. Don’t feel as if you’re Bible salesmen. The world has too many of those already. What you know about computing other people will learn. Don’t feel as if the key to successful computing is only in your hands. What’s in your hands, I think and hope, is intelligence: the ability to see the machine as more than when you were first led up to it, that you can make it more.’’

我认为在做计算机科学计算时保持快乐是相当重要的。事情刚开始时，无疑是充满了乐趣。只是当付钱的客户在使用一段时间后 喋喋不休时，我想我们是该对他们的意见引起重视。我们开始觉得我们的确应该为能够正确地成功的使用这些计算机器而负责。我不这么认为。 我认为我们的责任应该是为其延申，和开创新的方向，并且保持乐趣。我希望在计算机科学领域永远不要丢失对有趣的追求。综上所述， 我希望我们不会成为传教士，不要以为你是圣经的销售员。这个世界上这样的人已经够多了。你所知道的关于计算机的知识别人也会学会。 不要以为解开计算机奥妙的钥匙只在你的手里。取而代之，你所应该掌握的我认为也希望是这样的智慧：当你每次看到计算机时能够看到 比第一次见到她时更多的内容，从而创造出更多的可能。

Alan J. Perlis (April 1, 1922-February 7, 1990)