Portrait of Richard Stallman

Richard Stallman

Free software zealot, eccentric habits

Contemporary weird famous 227 sayings

Sayings by Richard Stallman

The free software movement is a social movement, not just a technical one.

1990s-present — Various interviews and speeches
General Unverifiable

We must resist the temptation of convenience at the cost of freedom.

2015 — Speech at a digital rights conference
General Unverifiable

It doesn't take special talents to reproduce — even plants can do it. On the other hand, contributing to a program like Emacs takes real skill. That is really something to be proud of. It helps more people, too.

2005 — Remarks on "Kernel mentor", an Everybody loves Eric Raymond internet cartoon.
General Unverifiable

For personal reasons, I do not browse the web from my computer. (I also have not net connection much of the time.) To look at page I send mail to a demon which runs wget and mails the page back to me. It is very efficient use of my time, but it is slow in real time.

2002 — Describing his personal computing habits, attributed to "Free as in Freedom: Richard Stallman's Crus…
Life & Aging Unverifiable

I did write some code in Java once, but that was the island in Indonesia.

2012 — Interview with Sriram Srinivasan and Sangeetha Kandavel, economictimes.indiatimes.com.
General Unverifiable

Facebook is not your friend, it is a surveillance engine.

2012 — Interview with Sriram Srinivasan and Sangeetha Kandavel, economictimes.indiatimes.com.
General Unverifiable

Giving the Linus Torvalds Award to the Free Software Foundation is a bit like giving the Han Solo Award to the Rebel Alliance.

2008 — General remarks, cited in a compilation of quotes.
General Unverifiable

Would a dating service on the net be 'frowned upon' . . . ? I hope not. But even if it is, don't let that stop you from notifying me via net mail if you start one.

2008 — General remarks, cited in a compilation of quotes.
Relationships Unverifiable

Once GNU is written, everyone will be able to obtain good system software free, just like air.

1985 — GNU Manifesto.
General Unverifiable

No person, no idea, and no religion deserves to be illegal to insult, not even the Church of Emacs — and certainly not Islam.

2008 — General remarks, cited in a compilation of quotes.
General Unverifiable

When I do this, some people think that it's because I want my ego to be fed, right? Of course, I'm not asking you to call it 'Stallmanix'!

2008 — General remarks, cited in a compilation of quotes.
General Unverifiable

After more than 30 years I think it's time to rewrite emacs from scratch. I would be happy to hear your suggestions about the best language to use. At the moment I think that Perl would be the best fit, because of its acronym: Perfect emacs rewriting language.

2006 — April Fool Mail, sent from Richard Stallman (though not actually sent by him, he found it funny).
Life & Aging Unverifiable

My friend is good at comforting people who are going off the deep end. He's very deep-endable.

2000-2024 — Puns section on his personal website.
General Unverifiable

I visited the Corning Glass Museum and told them that I could make Pyrex without hardly trying. You see, I've never done baking, so any pies I make will surely be wrecks.

2000-2024 — Puns section on his personal website.
Life & Aging Unverifiable

If you have trouble making decisions, you should get treated by an optician.

2000-2024 — Puns section on his personal website.
Food & Drink Unverifiable

What's the best tool for twisting someone's neck? A torc wrench.

2000-2024 — Puns section on his personal website.
General Unverifiable

How should a girl prevent boys from getting infatuated with her? Regularly use a detergent, and when that fails, apply the antidote.

2000-2024 — Puns section on his personal website.
General Unverifiable

In progressive feminist digital Islam, the community is led by an E-mom.

2000-2024 — Puns section on his personal website.
General Unverifiable

How does a Chinese chef cook a noisy animal? In a jabberwok.

2000-2024 — Puns section on his personal website.
Food & Drink Unverifiable

My friend opened a tin of sardines and began eating them with very small bites. I said, 'You can't do that! That's can-nibble-ism!'

2000-2024 — Puns section on his personal website.
Food & Drink Unverifiable
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