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
Controversial Unverifiable

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

2015 — Speech at a digital rights conference
Controversial 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.
Humorous 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…
Humorous 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.
Humorous Unverifiable

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

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

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

1985 — GNU Manifesto.
Humorous 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.
Humorous 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.
Humorous 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).
Humorous 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.
Humorous 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.
Humorous Unverifiable

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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