我想你朋友的意思是建议你不要去钻语言的奇淫技巧，比如C语言的「c+++++c+++c++值是多少」诸如此类问题，而多去关注解决问题之道，比如「清晰胜于机巧」、「策略同机制分离」等。
不过我认为「语言自身层面」和「编程思想」谁更重要是个见仁见智的问题，两者并不具备可比性：谁能证明出乘法和加法哪个更重要呢。不管哪方面，能做到极致就是大师。
「语言自身层面」是指的是某一种语言的的特性，上面举的c+++++c+++c++例子比较极端。不那么极端的例子是C++的机巧or取巧模版元编程或者是perl那如诗般or晦涩的代码：
C++:
template<unsigned n> struct factorial {
static const unsigned value = n * factorial < n-1 > ::value;
};
template<> struct factorial<0> {
static const unsigned value = 1;
};
int main() {
std::cout << factorial<6>::value << "\n";
return 0;
}
perl:
#!/usr/bin/perl
APPEAL:
listen (please, please);
open yourself, wide;
join (you, me),
connect (us,together),
tell me.
do something if distressed;
@
dawn, dance;
@
evening, sing;
read (books,$poems,stories) until peaceful;
study if able;
write me if-you-please;
sort your feelings, reset goals, seek (friends, family, anyone);
do*not*die (like this)
if sin abounds;
keys (hidden), open (locks, doors), tell secrets;
do not, I-beg-you, close them, yet.
accept (yourself, changes),
bind (grief, despair);
require truth, goodness if-you-will, each moment;
select (always), length(of-days)
# listen (a perl poem)
# Sharon Hopkins
# rev. June 19, 1995