<html> <head> <style></style> </head> <body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'>  <BR><div>> I kindly suggest the thought that omitting the quote is precisely what<br>> makes things harder for beginners. It seems to suggest to the<br>> untrained that REPL is returning something that is not a value. As<br>> Matthias and others have pointed out, you can not take the "value" (1<br>> 2 3) and use it somewhere else. What sense does that make?<br>></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> <br>I think beginner should understand that list is basic lisp notion which serves (at least) two purposes:</div><div> </div><div>1) list as data: as in (1 2 3) or as in whole lisp program</div><div> </div><div>or</div><div> </div><div>2) list as expression denoting function application: as in (+ 1 2)</div><div> </div><div>Once when above two points is understood, there is no confusion at all. I think that masking those facts when teaching doesn't contribute to beginner's greater understanding of the true nature of lisp.</div><div> </div><div> </div> </div></body> </html>