Richard Stallman

Computer Science American 1953 373 quotes

Founder of the free software movement and the GNU Project.

Most quoted

"Calling it 'intellectual property' is a propaganda term designed to confuse people into thinking that the various different laws that restrict what you can do with information are all one thing, and that they all have the same moral basis."

— from Various speeches

"I could have made money this way, and perhaps amused myself writing code. But I knew that at the end of my career, I would look back on years of building walls to divide people, and feel I had spent my life making the world a worse place."

— from The GNU Project

"My work on free software is motivated by an idealistic goal: spreading freedom and cooperation. I want to encourage free software to spread, replacing proprietary software that forbids cooperation, and thus make our society better."

— from Essays

All quotes by Richard Stallman (373)

The most powerful tool for change is freedom.

Various interviews and speeches

To deny someone the freedom to learn is to deny them their humanity.

Various interviews and speeches

The beauty of free software is that it empowers everyone.

Various interviews and speeches

The only way to truly understand something is to be able to modify it.

Various interviews and speeches

Proprietary software is a social problem, not just a technical one.

Various interviews and speeches

Our digital rights are human rights.

Various interviews and speeches

The greatest joy is to contribute to the freedom of others.

Various interviews and speeches

To be truly alive is to be free.

Various interviews and speeches

The path to freedom is often difficult, but it is always worth it.

Various interviews and speeches

The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable.

Often attributed to him, though not his original quote

The most important thing is to never give up on freedom.

Various interviews and speeches

We must build a world where everyone is free to share and learn.

Various interviews and speeches

The beauty of a community is its ability to collaborate freely.

Various interviews and speeches

Consciousness is the ability to choose, and freedom is the ability to exercise that choice.

Various interviews and speeches

The meaning of life is to make a difference, to contribute to a better world.

Various interviews and speeches

Death is inevitable, but the legacy of freedom can live on.

Various interviews and speeches

The human condition is one of constant struggle for freedom and self-determination.

Various interviews and speeches

True beauty lies in the openness and transparency of knowledge.

Various interviews and speeches

The spirit of free software is the spirit of cooperation and sharing.

Various interviews and speeches

To live a meaningful life, one must stand for something greater than oneself.

Various interviews and speeches