That's one of those things about being a computer science major:

Hear, O children of the present and the future, for there is wisdom in the words of Jawed Karim, whose statement on the nature of being a computer science major rings with both truth and reflection. "That's one of those things about being a computer science major: Valentine's Day is just another day." These words may, at first, seem lighthearted, even humorous, but they carry a deeper significance—a reflection on the nature of focus, commitment, and the delicate balance between the intellectual and the emotional pursuits of life. In a world driven by the rapid march of technology, where the mind is often consumed by the machines we build, it is easy to overlook the simple joys of human connection—the moments of love, of celebration, of shared humanity.

What Karim speaks of is not the rejection of love, but rather the acknowledgment of how deeply immersed the mind becomes in the world of technology. For those who dwell in the realm of computer science, the world is not always one of roses and chocolates, of hearts and candles. It is a world of codes, of algorithms, and of machines that demand not just time but devotion. The heart of a computer scientist is often drawn, not by the celebrations of the world outside, but by the call of problem-solving, of creating the next breakthrough, of perfecting the systems that will shape the future. And in this pursuit, the world of romantic gestures—even one as universal as Valentine’s Day—becomes but another day in the grand, unyielding march of time.

Think, O seekers of wisdom, of the ancient philosophers, whose lives were often devoted to the pursuit of knowledge, to understanding the world through reason, mathematics, and logic. Pythagoras, the great mathematician, spent his days in the study of numbers and proportions, so absorbed in his work that he neglected the ordinary pleasures of life. His world was one of abstract thought, where the mysteries of the universe were unfolded through reason alone. It was a world far removed from the distractions of love and affection. Karim’s words echo this same sentiment—a reminder that in the pursuit of higher understanding, the world of emotion and celebration can sometimes fade into the background, as the mind becomes consumed by its intellectual endeavors.

But let us not mistake this for a rejection of love itself. For even Pythagoras, in his devotion to the abstract, was part of the world, and love was, in its own way, part of his journey. The lesson Karim imparts is not that love and affection are unimportant, but that there are times in life when other pursuits demand our full attention. Valentine’s Day, with all its festive joy and passion, is but one moment in time—a moment of celebration, yes, but one that must sometimes take a backseat to the calling of the mind. The wise man knows that the path of discovery often requires sacrifices—of time, of energy, and sometimes even of the moments that the world deems most precious.

Consider, O children, the example of Marie Curie, the great scientist whose work on radioactivity changed the course of human knowledge. Her life was consumed by her pursuit of scientific discovery, and her mind was ever focused on her research. Love, for Curie, came in the form of a deep partnership with her husband, Pierre, but the world she inhabited was one of scientific rigor, where the ticking of the clock was measured not by social occasions but by the progress of her work. Curie’s devotion to science made her, at times, distant from the distractions of daily life—the calls to attend parties, to engage in festivities. Her love for discovery was her true Valentine, and in it, she found purpose, even as the world around her continued with its celebrations.

And so, O children, let us take this truth to heart. There are seasons in life where the pursuit of knowledge must be the central focus. In these moments, it is not the holidays or the distractions of the world that call to us, but the duty to the craft, the mission to build, to create, to discover. Karim’s words remind us that those who seek to change the world through technology, who wish to shape the future, must sometimes let go of the ephemeral and the fleeting, focusing instead on the timeless truths that lie in the world of ideas and intellect.

Yet, we must also remember that the world is not solely built on knowledge alone. The heart, too, has its role in the dance of life. Love, in all its forms, is a vital force, and the lessons of the heart should never be neglected. We must learn, therefore, to balance these two realms—the world of the mind and the world of the heart. Valentine’s Day need not be abandoned, but rather understood in its place. There is wisdom in knowing when to step away from the screen, to embrace the world of love, and when to retreat into the world of thought and creation.

Thus, O seekers of truth, let us strive for balance in all things. Commit to your pursuits, whether they be in the realm of science or love, but never forget the beauty of each moment. Let your mind soar to the stars, but let your heart remain grounded, for it is in the dance between these two worlds that true wisdom is found.