A Quotable Line...

All of you, who, like myself, have tendencies toward computer obsession, owe a great deal to Mr. Charles Babbage. Known as the "Father of Computing," Babbage's revolutionary ideas and persistent labors during his lifetime (1791-1871) made a profound and lasting impact upon our technological world.

At one point, Mr. Babbage had developed the concept for a large Difference Engine that would provide 20 decimal places for a sixth-order difference. He was trying to convince the members of Parliament to support his concept with additional funding. He is recorded as having made the following statement (which I find quite hilarious) in regards to this effort,

"On two occasions I have been asked (by members of Parliament), 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question."

I think the modern (and much less flattering) equivalent would be, "that was a stupid question." I rather like Babbage's phraseology. :-)

For more information on Charles Babbage, check out this site.