This slide from Dominus is more succinct than I am: http://perl.plover.com/yak/design/samples/slide012b.html

* The pattern language does not tell you how to design anything * It helps you decide what should be designed * You get to make up whatever patterns you think will lead to good designs * The Gang-of-Four idea is to discover existing patterns of software development o Then program people to implement them habitually o Not the same thing at all o Much less profound o Also much less human

Yep, it would make a good meditation. Let me uncloud my general theme (dominus comes close), get back to work, and maybe i'll post something (more well phrased) tonight. edit: on second thought, check SuperSearch. This has been done before, it's been played out.