--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I claim that Mach people (and apparently…" description: "\"I claim that Mach people (and apparently FreeBSD) are incompetent idiots.\" — Linus Torvalds" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba2/linus-torvalds-1512_claims_i-claim-that-mach-people-and-apparently_163271.jpg" --- # I claim that Mach people (and apparently FreeBSD) are… ![“I claim that Mach people (and apparently FreeBSD) are incompetent idiots.” quote by Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba2/linus-torvalds-1512_claims_i-claim-that-mach-people-and-apparently_163271.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba2/linus-torvalds-1512_claims_i-claim-that-mach-people-and-apparently_163271.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba2/linus-torvalds-1512_claims_i-claim-that-mach-people-and-apparently_163271.jpg) > “I claim that Mach people (and apparently FreeBSD) are incompetent idiots.” [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker harshly criticizes a group and a project, calling them incompetent. **In simple terms:** He calls them idiots. Key Takeaway Avoid blanket insults; focus on constructive feedback. Themes criticism technology communication Mood frustrated critical Type opinion controversial When to use this quote - open source communities - project management - peer review Key Concepts software development team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can criticism be made constructive? - What evidence supports this view? A Different Perspective Such sweeping statements can damage collaboration and morale. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiot/) [Incompetent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incompetent/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [If you think your users are idiots, only idiots will use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/if-you-think-your-users-are-idiots-only-idiots-will-use-it/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Unfortunately, I'm one of those idiots who knows everything about health and is in a constant state of alarm, and yet I continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/unfortunately-i-m-one-of-those-idiots-who-knows-everything-about/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [Home life is a foreign environment for most guys. So it's natural to show them being idiots at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-heaton/home-life-is-a-foreign-environment-for-most-guys-so-it-s-natural-to/) [Patricia Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-heaton/) > [New Rule: President Bush must stop acting like WE'RE the idiots. He gives speech after speech, and the theme is always the same; 'What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-president-bush-must-stop-acting-like-we-re-the-idiots-he/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [It is difficult to believe that even idiots ever succumbed to such transparent contradictions, to such gaudy processions of mere counter-words, to so vast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/it-is-difficult-to-believe-that-even-idiots-ever-succumbed-to-such/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Las Vegas turns women into men and men into idiots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bugsy-siegel/las-vegas-turns-women-into-men-and-men-into-idiots/) Bugsy Siegel > [Build a company that idiots could run because eventually they will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-rabois/build-a-company-that-idiots-could-run-because-eventually-they-will/) [Keith Rabois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-rabois/) > [Humanity is OK, but 99% of people are boring idiots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/humanity-is-ok-but-99-of-people-are-boring-idiots/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [Missing out an apostrophe or two does not make you an idiot. But equating party allegiance with nationhood certainly makes you a thug. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webb/missing-out-an-apostrophe-or-two-does-not-make-you-an-idiot-but/) [Robert Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webb/) > [God preserve me from idiots and men in love, which is the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-v-heberden/god-preserve-me-from-idiots-and-men-in-love-which-is-the-same-thing/) M. V. Heberden > [On entering this world our starting-point is ignorance. None, however, but idiots remain there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/on-entering-this-world-our-starting-point-is-ignorance-none-however/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Studio people are idiots. Until they see someone else doing it and make a success of it, they don't open their minds. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-schneider/studio-people-are-idiots-until-they-see-someone-else-doing-it-and/) [Rob Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-schneider/) > [If Girl In Luv, Hr Parents Ask: Who Is Dat Idiot? If Boy In Luv, His Parents Ask: Idiot, Who Is Dat Girl? Moral:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie/if-girl-in-luv-hr-parents-ask-who-is-dat-idiot-if-boy-in-luv-his/) [Sadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie/) > [I'm fed up with the idiots... the ever-widening gap between people who know how to make movies and the people who green-light the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/i-m-fed-up-with-the-idiots-the-ever-widening-gap-between-people-who/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [Solemnity is the shield of idiots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/solemnity-is-the-shield-of-idiots/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Linus Torvalds > [Once you realize that documentation should be laughed at, peed upon, put on fire, and just ridiculed in general, then, and only then, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/once-you-realize-that-documentation-should-be-laughed-at-peed-upon/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I think, fundamentally, open source does tend to be more stable software. It's the right way to do things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-think-fundamentally-open-source-does-tend-to-be-more-stable/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I used to be interested in Windows NT, but the more I see it, the more it looks like traditional Windows with a stabler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-used-to-be-interested-in-windows-nt-but-the-more-i-see-it-the-more/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I think that freely available software can not only keep up with the evolution of commercial software, but often exceed what you can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-think-that-freely-available-software-can-not-only-keep-up-with-the/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Programmers are in the enviable position of not only getting to do what they want to, but because the end result is so important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/programmers-are-in-the-enviable-position-of-not-only-getting-to-do/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [The NIH syndrome (Not Invented Here) is a disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/the-nih-syndrome-not-invented-here-is-a-disease/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [The correct form factor for a laptop is obviously 12" and 2 lbs, and I don't understand why everybody gets that wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/the-correct-form-factor-for-a-laptop-is-obviously-12-and-2-lbs-and-i/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Hmmm, completely a-religious - atheist. I find that people seem to think religion brings morals and appreciation of nature. I actually think it detracts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/hmmm-completely-a-religious-atheist-i-find-that-people-seem-to-think/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [People will realize that software is not a product; you use it to build a product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/people-will-realize-that-software-is-not-a-product-you-use-it-to/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [There are "extremists" in the free software world, but that's one major reason why I don't call what I do "free software" any more.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/there-are-extremists-in-the-free-software-world-but-that-s-one-major/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Real quality means making sure that people are proud of the code they write, that they're involved and taking it personally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/real-quality-means-making-sure-that-people-are-proud-of-the-code-they/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I have one very basic rule when it comes to "good ideas". A good idea is not an idea that solves a problem cleanly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-have-one-very-basic-rule-when-it-comes-to-good-ideas-a-good-idea-is/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I've never regretted not making Linux shareware: I really don't like the pay for use binary shareware programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-ve-never-regretted-not-making-linux-shareware-i-really-don-t-like/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Modern PCs are horrible. ACPI is a complete design disaster in every way. But we're kind of stuck with it. If any Intel people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/modern-pcs-are-horrible-acpi-is-a-complete-design-disaster-in-every/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I try to avoid long-range plans and visions - that way I can more easily deal with anything new that comes up without having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-try-to-avoid-long-range-plans-and-visions-that-way-i-can-more/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) [Explore all 233 Linus Torvalds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) ## More Claims quotes > [One of the worst things to come out of the Consumer Protection Board's misleading claims is the impression that government resources are to hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lesko/one-of-the-worst-things-to-come-out-of-the-consumer-protection-board/) [Matthew Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lesko/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [We do not claim that punning is legitimate wit. Wit consists in combination of ideas, punning in combination of words only. We wonder at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-hosmer/we-do-not-claim-that-punning-is-legitimate-wit-wit-consists-in/) [Harriet Hosmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-hosmer/) > [It is popular to call it a crisis of the Western world. It is in fact a crisis of the whole world. Communism, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whittaker-chambers/it-is-popular-to-call-it-a-crisis-of-the-western-world-it-is-in-fact/) [Whittaker Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whittaker-chambers/) > [One argument goes that recessions are good for female artists because when money flies out the window, women are allowed in the house. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/one-argument-goes-that-recessions-are-good-for-female-artists-because/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [Atheist’s denial of God’s existence needs just as much substantiation as does the theist’s claim; the atheist must give plausible reasons for rejecting God’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/atheist-s-denial-of-god-s-existence-needs-just-as-much-substantiation/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [In luggage claim at the Minneapolis airport, the guy came up to me and said, "Maybe you're wrong, maybe stories do matter." I wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/in-luggage-claim-at-the-minneapolis-airport-the-guy-came-up-to-me-and/) [Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/) > [The rights essential to happiness. . . . We claim them from a higher source - from the King of kings and Lord of all the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickinson/the-rights-essential-to-happiness-we-claim-them-from-a-higher-source/) [John Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickinson/) > [Those who do not know what love is likens it to beauty Those who claim to know what love is likens it to ugliness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tite-kubo/those-who-do-not-know-what-love-is-likens-it-to-beauty-those-who/) [Tite Kubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tite-kubo/) > [If ever my life can be of any use to you, come and claim it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/if-ever-my-life-can-be-of-any-use-to-you-come-and-claim-it/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [Religions do make claims about the universe--the same kinds of claims that scientists make, except they're usually false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/religions-do-make-claims-about-the-universe-the-same-kinds-of-claims/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [How can I set free anyone who doesn't have the guts to stand up alone and declare his own freedom? I think it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/how-can-i-set-free-anyone-who-doesn-t-have-the-guts-to-stand-up-alone/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. 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