--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like to think that I've been a good…" description: "\"I like to think that I've been a good manager. That fact has been very instrumental in making Linux a successful product.\" — Linus Torvalds" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d2/linus-torvalds-1512_good-man_i-like-to-think-that-i-ve-been-a-good-ma_1636626.jpg" --- # I like to think that I've been a good manager. That fact… ![“I like to think that I've been a good manager. That fact has been very instrumental in making Linux a successful product.” quote by Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d2/linus-torvalds-1512_good-man_i-like-to-think-that-i-ve-been-a-good-ma_1636626.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d2/linus-torvalds-1512_good-man_i-like-to-think-that-i-ve-been-a-good-ma_1636626.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d2/linus-torvalds-1512_good-man_i-like-to-think-that-i-ve-been-a-good-ma_1636626.jpg) > “I like to think that I've been a good manager. That fact has been very instrumental in making Linux a successful product.” [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 claims personal competence as a manager contributed significantly to Linux’s success, emphasizing leadership impact on open-source projects. **In simple terms:** Good management helped Linux succeed. Key Takeaway Effective leadership drives project success. Themes leadership technology open source Mood pragmatic optimistic Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - team building - project planning - community governance Key Concepts management collaboration software development Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance management with community input? - What leadership style best supports open-source? A Different Perspective Success also depends on community contributions, not just management. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Good manager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-manager/) [Linux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/linux/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [I very seldom worry about other systems. I concentrate pretty fully on just making Linux the best I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-very-seldom-worry-about-other-systems-i-concentrate-pretty-fully-on/) [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/) > [Making Linux GPL'd was definitely the best thing I ever did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/making-linux-gpl-d-was-definitely-the-best-thing-i-ever-did/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I don't actually follow other operating systems much. I don't compete - I just worry about making Linux better than itself, not others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-don-t-actually-follow-other-operating-systems-much-i-don-t-compete/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I think it's going to deliver on the promises we've said it's going to and it is going to be the most successful product…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-jackson/i-think-it-s-going-to-deliver-on-the-promises-we-ve-said-it-s-going/) [Ian Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-jackson/) > [But having had your bright, fresh, original idea, the really hard part is turning it into a successful product. That's what takes all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-baylis/but-having-had-your-bright-fresh-original-idea-the-really-hard-part/) [Trevor Baylis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-baylis/) > [I'm not worried about the kernel itself or the basic system. All the commercialization is about the distributions and the applications. As such, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-m-not-worried-about-the-kernel-itself-or-the-basic-system-all-the/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Bill Gates really seems to be much more of a business man than a technologist, while I prefer to think of Linux in technical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/bill-gates-really-seems-to-be-much-more-of-a-business-man-than-a/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [The cyberspace earnings I get from Linux come in the format of having a Network of people that know me and trust me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/the-cyberspace-earnings-i-get-from-linux-come-in-the-format-of-having/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [There are lots of Linux users who don't care how the kernel works, but only want to use it. That is a tribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/there-are-lots-of-linux-users-who-don-t-care-how-the-kernel-works-but/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Me trying to make a business around Linux would have been a total disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/me-trying-to-make-a-business-around-linux-would-have-been-a-total/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I do get my pizzas paid for by Linux indirectly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-do-get-my-pizzas-paid-for-by-linux-indirectly/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I started Linux as a desktop operating system. And it's the only area where Linux hasn't completely taken over. That just annoys the hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-started-linux-as-a-desktop-operating-system-and-it-s-the-only-area/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [That's what makes Linux so good: you put in something, and that effort multiplies. It's a positive feedback cycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/that-s-what-makes-linux-so-good-you-put-in-something-and-that-effort/) [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/) ## 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/) > [I claim that Mach people (and apparently FreeBSD) are incompetent idiots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-claim-that-mach-people-and-apparently-freebsd-are-incompetent-idiots/) [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/) [Explore all 233 Linus Torvalds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) ## More Good man quotes > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Good manners are not bred in moments, but in years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-mcnair-wright/good-manners-are-not-bred-in-moments-but-in-years/) [Julia McNair Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-mcnair-wright/) > [Troy was a sweet, good man. We just were never destined to be married. We just didn't have the same values. But I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-pleshette/troy-was-a-sweet-good-man-we-just-were-never-destined-to-be-married/) [Suzanne Pleshette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-pleshette/) > [The life of a good man was a continual warfare with his passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/the-life-of-a-good-man-was-a-continual-warfare-with-his-passions/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [ I don't see \[ Trainspotting \] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatross-i-see-it-more-as-a-calling/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“I put no stock in religion. By the word religion I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called the will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/i-put-no-stock-in-religion-by-the-word-religion-i-have-seen-the/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [To follow good manners willingly is like paving the road and to tell somebody to follow them is like the road which is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/to-follow-good-manners-willingly-is-like-paving-the-road-and-to-tell/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“It is said that the hallmark of a gentleman is that he is only ever rude intentionally. Arthur Bryant was no gentleman. His rudeness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-fowler/it-is-said-that-the-hallmark-of-a-gentleman-is-that-he-is-only-ever/) [Christopher Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-fowler/) > [I'm a good man with a good heart had a tough time, got a rough start But I finally learned to let it go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-m-a-good-man-with-a-good-heart-had-a-tough-time-got-a-rough-start/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [ I've often thought about that and the only suitable member to join me on that climb \[to Everest\] was George Lowe: he was strong,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/i-ve-often-thought-about-that-and-the-only-suitable-member-to-join-me/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [Of course, when you play football yourself you can think you want to become a manager but it does not make you a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaap-stam/of-course-when-you-play-football-yourself-you-can-think-you-want-to/) [Jaap Stam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaap-stam/) > [“Falsehood of a good man is better than truth of a bad one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/falsehood-of-a-good-man-is-better-than-truth-of-a-bad-one/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [“Atticus adjusted his glasses as he peered down at the blanket. “Hey, is that the book Nellie told us about?” Jake’s eyes flicked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-watson/atticus-adjusted-his-glasses-as-he-peered-down-at-the-blanket-hey-is/) [Jude Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-watson/) > [A good man therefore is a standing lesson to us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-good-man-therefore-is-a-standing-lesson-to-us-all/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [“Grits Glossary blues \\’blüz\\ n: nothing but a good man singing about hardship, sorrow, and the things he’s done wrong--but sake’s alive, they make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/grits-glossary-blues-bl-z-n-nothing-but-a-good-man-singing-about/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) [Browse all 2,081 Good man quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like to think that I've been a good manager. 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