Portrait of Richard Stallman

Richard Stallman

Free software zealot, eccentric habits

Contemporary weird famous 227 sayings

Sayings by Richard Stallman

The idea of a 'digital right' is an oxymoron.

2007 — Speech at Transmediale festival
Wisdom Unverifiable

The only way to protect your privacy is to use free software.

early 2000s onwards — Various speeches
Wisdom Unverifiable

I don't use any software that requires me to agree to a restrictive license.

2013 — Interview with The Verge
Wisdom Unverifiable

The internet is a tool for mass surveillance.

2008 — Speech at Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm
Wisdom Unverifiable

Proprietary software is a moral wrong.

early 2000s onwards — Various speeches and essays
Wisdom Unverifiable

I don't use anything with a proprietary firmware. That means no modern routers, no modern wifi cards.

2008 — Interview with The Guardian
Wisdom Unverifiable

The software you use should respect your freedom.

2007 — Speech at Transmediale festival
Justice & Rights Unverifiable

The only way to have a just society is to have free software.

early 2000s onwards — Various speeches
Wisdom Unverifiable

I don't use a computer that isn't running entirely free software.

2013 — Interview with The Verge
Wisdom Unverifiable

The internet is a threat to democracy.

2008 — Speech at Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm
Political Unverifiable

Proprietary software is a form of digital enslavement.

early 2000s onwards — Various speeches and essays
Wisdom Unverifiable

I don't use any online services that require me to give up my privacy.

2008 — Interview with The Guardian
Wisdom Unverifiable

The term 'intellectual property' is designed to confuse people.

2007 — Speech at Transmediale festival
Educational Unverifiable

The only way to be truly secure is to use free software.

early 2000s onwards — Various speeches
Wisdom Unverifiable

I don't use a webcam. I don't want to be watched.

2013 — Interview with The Verge
Wisdom Unverifiable

The internet is a tool for corporate control.

2008 — Speech at Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm
Power & Leadership Unverifiable

Proprietary software is a violation of human rights.

early 2000s onwards — Various speeches and essays
Justice & Rights Unverifiable

I don't use any software that reports back to its developer.

2008 — Interview with The Guardian
Wisdom Unverifiable

The goal of the free software movement is to liberate cyberspace.

2007 — Speech at Transmediale festival
Wisdom Unverifiable

The injustice is in the word 'assaulting'. The term 'sexual assault' is so vague and slippery that it facilitates accusation inflation: taking claims that someone did X and leading people to think of it as Y, which is much worse than X.

2019 — Email to an MIT listserv regarding Marvin Minsky and Jeffrey Epstein's victim
General Unverifiable
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