I ran by a few things when searching for techniques to make your programming beautiful. Here is what I ran by:

1. Strive to add more function by deleting code.
2. A Designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. (Saint-Exupery)
3. In software, the most beautiful code, the most beautiful functions, and the most beautiful programs are sometimes not there at all.
4. Vigorous writing is concise. Omit needless words. (Strunk and White)
5. The cheapest, fastest, and most reliable components of a computer system are those that aren’t there. (Bell)
6. Endeavor to do more and more with less and less.
7. If I had more time, I would have written you a shorter letter. (Pascal)
8. The Inventor’s Paradox: The more ambitious plan may have more chance of success. (Polya)
9. Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it. (Perlis)
10. Less is more. (Browning)
11. Make everything as simple as possible, but no simpler. (Einstein)
12. Software should sometimes be seen as a soap bubble. (Perlis)
13. Seek beauty through simplicity.

That list is from a book entitled, “Beautiful Code” by Andy Oram and Greg Wilson. Sometime or other, I’ll get my hands on a copy… lol