I was horrified by the past, and I wanted to alter the present by changing the system.

—José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere,

translated by Harold Augenbraum

Consider the situation in which several different centers are netted together, each center being highly individualistic and having its own special language and its own special way of doing things. Is it not desirable, or even necessary, for all the centers to agree upon some language or, at least, upon some conventions for asking such questions as “What language do you speak?”

—J. C. R. Licklider, United States Department of Defense

Advanced Research Projects Agency

We will unleash something that’s going to be terrific.

—President Donald Trump,

interview with ABC News,

the White House