Linus Torvalds quotes - page 9

There were open source projects and free software before Linux was there. Linux in many ways is one of the more visible and one of the bigger technical projects in this area, and it changed how people looked at it because Linux took both the practical and ideological approach. (Linus Torvalds)
I try to avoid long-range plans and visions - that way I can more easily deal with anything new that comes up. View quote
Linus Torvalds
There are lots of Linux users who don't care how the kernel works, but only want to use it. That is a tribute to how good Linux is. View quote
Linus Torvalds
There's innovation in Linux. There are some really good technical features that I'm proud of. There are capabilities in Linux that aren't in other operating systems. View quote
Linus Torvalds
I get the biggest enjoyment from the random and unexpected places. Linux on cellphones or refrigerators, just because it's so not what I envisioned it. Or on supercomputers. View quote
Linus Torvalds
If you start doing things because you hate others and want to screw them over, the end result is bad. View quote
Linus Torvalds
Software patents, in particular, are very ripe for abuse. The whole system encourages big corporations getting thousands and thousands of patents. Individuals almost never get them. View quote
Linus Torvalds
The economics of the security world are all horribly, horribly nasty and are largely based on fear, intimidation and blackmail. View quote
Linus Torvalds
To be a nemesis, you have to actively try to destroy something, don't you? Really, I'm not out to destroy Microsoft. That will just be a completely unintentional side effect. View quote
Linus Torvalds
By staying neutral, I end up being somebody that everybody can trust. Even if they don't always agree with my decisions, they know I'm not working against them. View quote
Linus Torvalds
People will realize that software is not a product you use it to build a product. (Linus Torvalds)
Hey, I'm a good software engineer, but I'm not exactly known for my fashion sense. White socks and sandals don't translate to 'good design sense'. View quote
Linus Torvalds
I'm interested in Linux because of the technology, and Linux wasn't started as any kind of rebellion against the 'evil Microsoft empire.' View quote
Linus Torvalds
I think, fundamentally, open source does tend to be more stable software. It's the right way to do things. View quote
Linus Torvalds
I often compare open source to science. To where science took this whole notion of developing ideas in the open and improving on other peoples' ideas and making it into what science is today and the incredible advances that we have had. And I compare that to witchcraft and alchemy, where openness was something you didn't do. View quote
Linus Torvalds
Once you start thinking more about where you want to be than about making the best product, you're screwed. View quote
Linus Torvalds
Often your 'fixes' are actually removing capabilities that you had, because they were 'too confusing to the user'. GNOME seems to be developed by interface Nazis, where consistently the excuse for not doing something is not 'it's too complicated to do', but 'it would confuse users'. View quote
Linus Torvalds
I don't have any authority over Linux other than this notion that I know what I'm doing. View quote
Linus Torvalds
I think of myself as an engineer, not as a visionary or 'big thinker.' I don't have any lofty goals. View quote
Linus Torvalds
One of the questions I've always hated answering is how do people make money in open source. And I think that Caldera and Red Hat -- and there are a number of other Linux companies going public -- basically show that yes, you can actually make money in the open-source area. View quote
Linus Torvalds
The thing I love about diving is the flowing feeling. I like a sport where the whole point is to move as little as humanly possible so your air supply will last longer. That's my kind of sport. Where the amount of effort spent is absolutely minimal. (Linus Torvalds)
I've actually found the image of Silicon Valley as a hotbed of money-grubbing tech people to be pretty false, but maybe that's because the people I hang out with are all really engineers. View quote
Linus Torvalds
I actually think that I'm a rather optimistic and happy person; it's just that I'm not a very positive person, if you see the difference. View quote
Linus Torvalds
I don't think I'm unusual in preferring my laptop to be thin and light. View quote
Linus Torvalds
Every once in a while an issue comes up where I have to make a statement. I can't totally avoid all political issues, but I try my best to minimize them. When I do make a statement, I try to be fairly neutral. View quote
Linus Torvalds