Shakespeare invented how we think in post-Shakespeare English by transforming language, not to mention what is important to focus on in life (and sometimes the

Shakespeare invented how we think in post-Shakespeare English by transforming language, not to mention what is important to focus on in life (and sometimes the importance of focusing on important things). 99.9% of programming is a lot more of just plugging together library and API calls. We plug them together to user interfaces which is the apex of the age we live in: technology, empowering people to change the world in exciting new ways (as hackneyed as that sounds). It's just true. Our age involves a lot of globalization (in the Peter Thiel sense), but it's still very squarely part of a technology revolution. Viaweb might've been a way to just make money for the most part. But that's not what impactful SaaS or other software is about. What the APIs / library calls are being connected to is of utmost importance. And similarly, the ideas that Shakespeare came up with - the hundreds of ideas, that help us focus on what's most important to live a meaningful life, those are also helpful. And yes the language plays a role. That said there is a grain of truth to this parent comment and PG's post. But there's also a lot missing. Both words and C++/Java-esque languages are super basic. But with enough of a fixed idea in mind, over time, they're good enough for getting at some really important things. And that is what matters.