Alan Perlis
Pascal is for building pyramids - imposing, breathtaking, static structures built by armies pushing heavy blocks into place. Lisp is for building organisms - imposing, breathtaking, dynamic structures built by squads fitting fluctuating myriads of simpler organisms into place.
Edsger Dijkstra
Lisp has jokingly been called "the most intelligent way to misuse a computer." I think that description is a great compliment, because it transmits the full flavor of liberation: it has assisted a number of our most gifted fellow humans in thinking previously impossible thoughts.
