Knuth is brilliant and wonderfully pragmatic, no doubt. I think the greatest thing Knuth really got into me is that code is meant for people, not computers.
As to Dijkstra; enlightenment doesn't necessarily mean productive. Some of the least successful people I've ever met, can have absolutely sage like advice. Dijkstra was able to visualize things others could not, and explain novel solutions to those. On top of that he had a deep understanding of the life of a programmer and the complexities faced day in and day out.
The kind of creativity and acceptance of uncertainty that leads to insight is often at odds with the narrow focus get-it-done tenacity associated with success. Some people have more of the former without the ability to switch to the latter.
As to Dijkstra; enlightenment doesn't necessarily mean productive. Some of the least successful people I've ever met, can have absolutely sage like advice. Dijkstra was able to visualize things others could not, and explain novel solutions to those. On top of that he had a deep understanding of the life of a programmer and the complexities faced day in and day out.