“Life is short … so why waste it doing something dumb?”

As the Internet breaks down the last justifications for a professional class of politicians, it also builds up the tools for replacing them.

Most people’s major life changes don’t come from reading an article in the newspaper; they come from reading longer-form essays or thoughtful books, which are much more convincing and detailed.

Think deeply about things. Don’t just go along because that’s the way things are or that’s what your friends say. Consider the effects, consider the alternatives, but most importantly, just think.

Only those blinded by greed would refuse to let a friend make a copy.

Creativity comes from applying things you learn in other fields to the field you work in.

Real education is about genuine understanding and the ability to figure things out on your own; not about making sure every 7th grader has memorized all the facts some bureaucrats have put in the 7th grade curriculum.

I don’t want to be happy. I just want to change the world.

There is no justice in following unjust laws. It’s time to come into the light and, in the grand tradition of civil disobedience, declare our opposition to this private theft of public culture.

Information is power. But like all power, there are those who want to keep it for themselves.

The adults were completely wrong.

Steadfastness is a noble quality, but unguided by knowledge or humility, it becomes rashness, or obstinacy.

What is the most important thing you could be working on in the world right now? … And if you’re not working on that, why aren’t you?

There is no justice in following unjust laws.

Being around some of the bright lights of the technology world and having them expect great things helps you sit down and do it seriously.

Reality is painful — it’s so much easier to keep doing stuff you know you’re good at or else to pick something so hard there’s no point at which it’s obvious you’re failing — but it’s impossible to get better without confronting it.

With enough of us, around the world, we’ll not just send a strong message opposing the privatization of knowledge – we’ll make it a thing of the past.

Life should be fun not dumb

I was young and dumb back in the ’90s, but I had a lot of fun.

It takes a smart man to play dumb.

This tends to result in very dumbed-down products that are easy to get started on, but are generally worthless and/or debilitating.

A mental midget with the IQ of a fence post.

It’s modern-day slavery.

Their messages are loud and clear: LET US OUT AND LEAVE US ALONE!!!

The Bell never rings of itself; unless some one handles or moves it it is dumb.