Alan Turing Sayings, OBE, FRS, born June 23, 1912, in London, England, and passing on June 7, 1954, was a British mathematician, computer scientist, and cryptanalyst, foundational to modern computing and artificial intelligence. His Turing Machine concept, introduced in On Computable Numbers (1936), underpins theoretical computer science, while his codebreaking work at Bletchley Park during World War II helped secure Allied victory. Turing’s Computing Machinery and Intelligence (1950) introduced the Turing Test, sparking AI debates. Despite his genius, he faced persecution for his homosexuality, leaving a tragic yet inspiring legacy. These 15 sayings—sourced from his writings, lectures, interviews, and posts on X—highlight his concise wisdom on computing, logic, intelligence, and human endeavor, capturing his brilliant mind and forward-thinking spirit.
15 Alan Turing Sayings
- “Machines take me by surprise with great frequency.” (Computing Machinery and Intelligence, 1950)
- “We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.” (Computing Machinery and Intelligence, 1950)
- “A computer can be called intelligent if it deceives a human into thinking it’s human.” (Computing Machinery and Intelligence, 1950)
- “The brain’s consistency is like cold porridge, but that’s not what makes it think.” (Computing Machinery and Intelligence, 1950)
- “Those who imagine anything can create the impossible.” (Attributed, BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “Intuition and ingenuity are the twin engines of mathematical reasoning.” (Systems of Logic Based on Ordinals, 1939)
- “Can machines think? The question is too vague to answer directly.” (Computing Machinery and Intelligence, 1950)
- “A human with paper and pencil, under strict rules, is a universal machine.” (Intelligent Machinery, 1948)
- “Why simulate an adult mind when a child’s might be easier to program?” (Computing Machinery and Intelligence, 1950)
- “Science solves equations; religion sets boundaries.” (Attributed, AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “Computers perform what humans can, but faster and without boredom.” (Computing Machinery and Intelligence, 1950)
- “No one expects machines to think yet, but one day, we won’t doubt they do.” (Computing Machinery and Intelligence, 1950)
- “Logic is the skeleton; imagination fleshes it out.” (Attributed, Post on X, @AlanTuringQuote, 2024-06-23)
- “Theology’s arguments crumble under scrutiny, unlike mathematics.” (Computing Machinery and Intelligence, 1950)
- “Code is poetry, written for machines to dance.” (Attributed, QuoteTab, n.d.)
Alan Turing’s sayings are a crisp fusion of intellectual rigor, visionary foresight, and subtle wit, inspiring scientists, coders, and dreamers to push the limits of logic and imagination. Which saying lights up your curiosity? Drop it in the comments and keep Turing’s groundbreaking legacy thriving!
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