From the "Handbook of Software Architechture"

I've just run across this article / book. Looks real good. Two quotes from the first page:

Despite its transparency, as Bjarne Stroustrup has observed, "our civilization runs on software." It is therefore a tremendous privilege as well as a deep responsibility to be a software developer. It is a privilege because what we do collectively as an industry has changed and will continue to change the world.

and

Paul Levy, one of the founders of IBM Rational, once remarked "Ultimately, building software is the world's most important industry. Software today allows a brother in San Jose to call a sister in St. Petersburg. Software today speeds the process of drug discovery, potentially curing Alzheimer's. Software today drives the imaging systems that allow the early detection of breast cancer and other maladies. Software controls the passive restraint systems and antilock breaking systems that save children's lives in automobiles every day. Software powers our communication and transporation technologies. Software allows us to peer deep withing ourselves and study the human genome. Software allows us to explore and understand our universe. And, make no mistake about it, we are just getting started."

That's what I'm talking about.