Dijkstra presents simplicity as an achievement rather than evidence that little effort has been made. Producing a clear solution can require substantial work to remove unnecessary complications while preserving what matters. Recognising that achievement also requires understanding: an apparently straightforward result can conceal the effort and insight behind it.

The final sentence introduces a competing incentive. Dijkstra suggests that complexity can appear more impressive or valuable, while simplicity may be mistaken for triviality. In the surrounding essay, he extends this criticism beyond commercial computing to academic life, arguing that introducing complicated concepts can attract more recognition than showing how to avoid them.

The quotation distinguishes the quality of an idea from its appeal to an audience. Applied more broadly, it encourages judging solutions by their clarity and effectiveness rather than their apparent sophistication. It also cautions against assuming that something easy to understand must have been easy to produce.

Full quotation

“But before above rosy future will have been reached, some hurdles have to be taken. Simplicity is a great virtue but it requires hard work to achieve it and education to appreciate it. And to make matters worse: complexity sells better.”