Brian Kernighan Quotes

Done is better than perfect!

There is nothing more requisite in business than despatch.

One must strike the right balance between speed and quality.

Focusing on the right priorities can help you do more faster.

I learned to value speed in everything I do.

Be quick without hurrying.

Doing more things faster is no substitute for doing the right things.

What is done well is done quickly enough.

I am as prompt as a clock, if I only know the day a thing is wanted—otherwise I am a natural procrastinaturalist.

One’s objective should be to get it right, get it quick, get it out and get it over. Your problem won’t improve with age.

Soon equates to good, later to worse, Uagen Zlepe, scholar. Therefore, immediacy.

I think good ideas are usually better done quickly than slowly.

First, do it. Second, do it well. Third, do it well and fast — that means you're a professional.

You've got to make haste while it's still light of day.

Nothing in business is so valuable as time.

I think the biggest problem we have is taking too long over things. Not in terms of getting it right, but sometimes we do things quickly that are really good.

Speed is absolutely key to creativity. The more time it takes to create something, the less likely you are to create something.

As you consider building your own minimum viable product, let this simple rule suffice: remove any feature, process, or effort that does not contribute directly to the learning you seek.

Be big, fast and flexible.

Nothing can be done well at a speed of forty miles a day. The multitude of mixed, novel impressions rapidly piled on one another make only a dreamy, bewildering, swirling blur, most of which is unrememberable.

Shun delays, they breed remorse;Take thy time while time is lent thee;Creeping snails have weakest force,Fly their fault lest thou repent thee.Good is best when soonest wrought,Linger'd labours come to nought.

So many people spend so much time on things that aren't important. It's the difference between success and failure.

Some people will tell you that slow is good - but I'm here to tell you that fast is better.

Time is our most finite commodity, therefore our most valuable, and I respect other peoples' time.