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Crashed Quote by Linus Torvalds

“When you say 'I wrote a program that crashed Windows,' people just stare at you blankly and say 'Hey, I got those with the system, for free.'” quote by Linus Torvalds
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“When you say 'I wrote a program that crashed Windows,' people just stare at you blankly and say 'Hey, I got those with the system, for free.'”

Linus Torvalds

About This Quote

Source Interview: 2012 Linux Kernel Developers Conference, Linus Torvalds

People dismiss technical achievements as trivial when they lack context, reducing complex work to a joke.

In simple terms: Technical work is often undervalued without explanation.

Key Takeaway

Explain the effort behind your work.

Themes

humor technical pride misunderstanding

Mood

lighthearted defensive

Type

anecdotal conversational

When to use this quote

  • team meetings
  • public talks
  • technical blogs

Key Concepts

software development communication perception

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you convey complexity simply?
  • What assumptions cause dismissal?
A Different Perspective

People may still mock without deeper technical knowledge.

4.8 out of 5 (4 ratings)

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