[rusini]

IMHO, the language size DOES matter and IS related to the language complexity and especially the syntax complexity. However, I believe many designers ARE aware of complexity issues and many languages turn into a mess only with time. BTW, I have designed a PL with a syntax, which is specifically designed to be not-prone to this syntax complexity problem as the language evolves.

There's also general philosophical advice that one should use the LEAST powerful tool for a task among all viable options. Many, especially newbie, developers just don't get it.

So, in general Wirth is right. But he is also known for oversimplifying his "50-page" language reports, and according to my experience, 50 pages is not sufficient to specify precisely even a small (but useful) PL. One such well-known lack of precision is nominal vs structural type equivalence in Pascal.