https://arp242.net/the-art-of-unix-programming/
More of the Unix philosophy was implied not by what these elders said but by what they did and the example Unix itself set. Looking at the whole, we can abstract the following ideas:
Rule of Modularity: Write simple parts connected by clean interfaces. Rule of Clarity: Clarity is better than cleverness. Rule of Composition: Design programs to be connected to other programs. Rule of Separation: Separate policy from mechanism; separate interfaces from engines. Rule of Simplicity: Design for simplicity; add complexity only where you must. Rule of Parsimony: Write a big program only when it is clear by demonstration that nothing else will do.