Ugly programs are like ugly suspension bridges: they're much more liable to collapse than pretty ones, because the way humans (especially engineer-humans) perceive beauty is intimately related to our ability to process and understand complexity.

Summary

This quote suggests that the aesthetic quality or appearance of a program is important, as it mirrors the relationship between beauty and functionality in suspension bridges. Just as an ugly bridge is more likely to fail, ugly programs are more prone to collapse due to the fact that our perception of beauty is closely linked to our ability to comprehend complexity. In other words, a visually pleasing and well-structured program is more likely to be reliable and easily understood, while a poorly designed one may lead to errors and difficulties in navigation.

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