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About this quote

What does it mean?
Mentioning any other language can be used as a way to 'prove' anything in Perl.
In plain terms
You can argue any point by invoking another language.
What can you take from it?
Beware of false equivalence in technical debates.

Where it applies

  • code reviews
  • forum discussions

Putting it to work

  • focus on actual behavior
  • avoid irrelevant comparisons

Questions to consider

  • How can you keep arguments grounded?
  • When is a cross‑language analogy valid?

Another view

Sometimes cross‑language comparisons are genuinely useful.

More from Larry Wall

  1. P.S. Perl's master plan (or what passes for one) is to take over the world like English did. Er, *as* English did...

    Permalink to quote #86
  2. I think you didn't get a reply because you used the terms 'correct' and 'proper', neither of which has much meaning in Perl culture. :-)

    Permalink to quote #88
  3. No prisoner's dilemma here. Over the long term, symbiosis is more useful than parasitism. More fun, too. Ask any mitochondria.

    Permalink to quote #85

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  1. No rational argument will have a rational effect on a man who does not want to adopt a rational attitude.

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  2. In argument similes are like songs in love; they describe much, but prove nothing.

    Franz KafkaFranz Kafka quote #92
  3. That's a valid argument. I just don't think it's valid enough. :-)

    Larry WallLarry Wall quote #186