9th century incremental development

Appreciation of the incremental, pragmatic approach used in Agile Development from the annals of history:

"The just man builds on a modest foundation and gradually proceeds to greater things." - unknown circa 9th  century.

This saying is used by Asser to describe the philosophy of learning of King Alfred the Great.

* 'just man' may also be more modernly translated as 'man with sound judgement'.

Homer on Pairing

(From the Iliad, Diomed in giving his counsel on how the Achaeans might capture some intelligence on the Trojan plans):

"When two men are together, one of them may see some opportunity which the other has not caught sight of; if a man is alone he is less full of resource, and his wit is weaker."