"I believed in realism, as summarized by John McCarthy's comment to the effect that if we worked really hard, we'd have an intelligent system in from four to four hundred years"

Marvin Minsky's quote is a reflection of his belief in realism. He was describing the concept that if we put in the effort, we could create a smart system within a reasonably brief amount of time. This remains in line with the comments of John McCarthy, who suggested that it might take anywhere from four to 4 hundred years to achieve this objective. Minsky's quote is a reminder that effort and dedication can cause fantastic accomplishments, even if it takes a long time. It likewise works as a suggestion that we should never ever quit on our dreams, no matter how long it takes to achieve them. Minsky's quote is a testament to the power of realism and the value of perseverance.