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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?

Aaron Swartz

Now everyone has a license to speak, it’s a question of who gets heard.
AARON SWARTZ

Heard License Question Speak
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.
AARON SWARTZ

Alternative Consider Deeply Friend Important Thinking Way
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.
AARON SWARTZ

Article Book Chang Funny Inspirational Life Most Newspaper People Reading
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.
AARON SWARTZ

Doing Easier Get Better Good Painful Pick Reality Something Stuff
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.
AARON SWARTZ

Culture Grand Justice Law Light Opposition Public Theft Tradition
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?
AARON SWARTZ

Important Motivational Work World
Steadfastness is a noble quality, but unguided by knowledge or humility, it becomes rashness, or obstinacy.
AARON SWARTZ

Humility Knowledge Noble Quality Rashless Steadfastness Understanding Unguided
As the Internet breaks down the last justifications for a professional class of politicians, it also builds up the tools for replacing them.
AARON SWARTZ

Break Class Internet Justification Last Politician Professional Tool
Only those blinded by greed would refuse to let a friend make a copy.
AARON SWARTZ

Blinded Copy Friend Greed Refuse
There is no justice in following unjust laws.
AARON SWARTZ

Following Justice Law Unjust
Information is power. But like all power, there are those who want to keep it for themselves.
AARON SWARTZ

Information Power Themselves Want
No, you can’t force other people to change. You can, however, change just about everything else. And usually, that’s enough.
AARON SWARTZ

Change Enough Everything Force Other People
Life is short … so why waste it doing something dumb?
AARON SWARTZ

Dumb Life Short Value Waste Why
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.
AARON SWARTZ

Bright Expect Help Light Seriously Technology Thing World
The adults were completely wrong.
AARON SWARTZ

Adult Completely Relatable Wrong
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.
AARON SWARTZ

Knowledge Message Opposing Past Privatization Strong
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.
AARON SWARTZ

Ability Curriculum Education Figure Genuine Own Real Understanding
I don’t want to be happy. I just want to change the world.
AARON SWARTZ

Changing Happy Want World
Creativity comes from applying things you learn in other fields to the field you work in.
AARON SWARTZ

Applying Creativity Field Learn Work

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?

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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?

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