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Words of Wisdom — January 26, 2015

Grace Hopper: “Humans Are Allergic to Change”

“Humans are allergic to change. They love to say, ‘We’ve always done it this way.’ I try to fight that. That’s why I have a clock on my wall that runs counter-clockwise.”

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Rear Admiral Grace Hopper (1906-1992) was a U.S. Navy officer and pioneer computer scientist. Dr. Hopper was one of the first programmers of the Harvard Mark I computer in 1944 as well as inventor of the first compiler for a computer programming language. Hopper remained in the Navy until the age of 79. When she retired she was the oldest active-duty commissioned officer in the United States Navy. Hopper’s many accomplishments and accolades earned her the nickname “Amazing Grace.”

“Humans are allergic to change. They love to say, ‘We’ve always done it this way.’ I try to fight that. That’s why I have a clock on my wall that runs counter-clockwise.” [Wikiquote]

Sources:

“The Wit and Wisdom of Grace Hopper” by Philip Schieber in OCLC Newsletter, No. 167 (March/April 1987)

“Computer Whiz Retires from Navy”. Detroit Free Press. United Press International. August 15, 1986. p. 4A.

Hopper’s Wikipedia page features a well-sourced summary of her amazing life.

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