Today I am one of the senior technical cadre that makes the Internet work, and a core Linux and open-source developer.

In the U.S., blacks are 12% of the population but commit 50% of violent crimes; can anyone honestly think this is unconnected to the fact that they average 15 points of IQ lower than the general population? That stupid people are more violent is a fact independent of skin color.

You cannot motivate the best people with money. Money is just a way to keep score. The best people in any field are motivated by passion.

Berkeley hackers liked to see themselves as rebels against soulless corporate empires.

The Wesnoth devs are good but not exceptionally so, and we're weighed down by a crappy implementation language (C++). Nevertheless our productivity, in terms of goals achieved per hour of work, is quite high.

Often, the most striking and innovative solutions come from realizing that your concept of the problem was wrong.

Programmer time is expensive; conserve it in preference to machine time