--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was never a \"big thinker\". One of my…" description: "\"I was never a \"big thinker\". One of my philosophies in Linux has always been to not worry about the future too much, but make sure that we make the bes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/linus-torvalds-1512_bigs_i-was-never-a-big-thinker-one-of-my-phil_3235595.jpg" --- # I was never a "big thinker". One of my philosophies in… ![“I was never a "big thinker". One of my philosophies in Linux has always been to not worry about the future too much, but make sure that we make the best of what we have now - together with keeping our options open for the future and not digging us into a hole.” quote by Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/linus-torvalds-1512_bigs_i-was-never-a-big-thinker-one-of-my-phil_3235595.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/linus-torvalds-1512_bigs_i-was-never-a-big-thinker-one-of-my-phil_3235595.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/linus-torvalds-1512_bigs_i-was-never-a-big-thinker-one-of-my-phil_3235595.jpg) > “I was never a "big thinker". One of my philosophies in Linux has always been to not worry about the future too much, but make sure that we make the best of what we have now - together with keeping our options open for the future and not digging us into a hole.” [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. Prioritizing present resources while staying flexible for future possibilities. **In simple terms:** Focus on now, keep options open. Key Takeaway Act now, plan for later. Themes pragmatism future planning resource management Mood practical forward‑looking Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - software development - team management - personal productivity - strategic planning Key Concepts Open-source philosophy risk mitigation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance immediate needs with future goals? - What safeguards keep options open? A Different Perspective May neglect long‑term innovation if overly focused on present. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big Thinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-thinker-4188492/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Digging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/digging/) [Holes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holes/) [Linux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/linux/) [Linux Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/linux-worry-6137405/) [Philosophies Linux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophies-linux-6137404/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Thinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinker/) [Thinker Philosophies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinker-philosophies-6137406/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Worry About The Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry-about-the-future/) [Worry Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry-future/) ## Related quotes > [“Worry about the future is not simply a character tic, it is the sin of unbelief, an indication that our hearts are not resting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/worry-about-the-future-is-not-simply-a-character-tic-it-is-the-sin-of/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“Don't worry about the future, sooner or later it's the past. If they say the feeling's gone then it's time to take it back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meat-loaf/don-t-worry-about-the-future-sooner-or-later-it-s-the-past-if-they/) [Meat Loaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meat-loaf/) > [RELAX. Slow down. Take a deep breath. Dont worry about the future, prepare for it. Life is lived in the present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/relax-slow-down-take-a-deep-breath-dont-worry-about-the-future/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [No one knows how long one moment you can be all happy the next your gone all I know is life in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-noland/no-one-knows-how-long-one-moment-you-can-be-all-happy-the-next-your/) [K Noland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-noland/) > [You don't have to worry about the future, you don't worry about the past - you just explode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-don-t-have-to-worry-about-the-future-you-don-t-worry-about-the/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [It is useless for alcoholics to worry about the future, for there will soon be no future for them to worry about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/it-is-useless-for-alcoholics-to-worry-about-the-future-for-there-will/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“This brings us back to anxiety, our tendency to live out the future before it arrives. We must renounce our sinful desire to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/this-brings-us-back-to-anxiety-our-tendency-to-live-out-the-future/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [We lose the joy of living in the present when we worry about the future..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-lose-the-joy-of-living-in-the-present-when-we-worry-about-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you worry about the future, and dwell on the past, you can’t enjoy the present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-stanton/if-you-worry-about-the-future-and-dwell-on-the-past-you-can-t-enjoy/) [Angie Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-stanton/) > [If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-t-bennett/if-you-want-to-be-happy-do-not-dwell-in-the-past-do-not-worry-about/) [Roy T. Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-t-bennett/) > [“When you no longer worry about the future, and no longer have regrets about the past, you exist purely in the moment. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wilson/when-you-no-longer-worry-about-the-future-and-no-longer-have-regrets/) [Paul Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wilson/) > [“Forget about the Past; Don't Worry about the Future; Live Today!-RVM”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/forget-about-the-past-don-t-worry-about-the-future-live-today-rvm/) [RVM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rvm/) > [Don't hurry anything. Don't worry about the future. Don't worry about what progress you're making. Just be entirely content to be aware of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/don-t-hurry-anything-don-t-worry-about-the-future-don-t-worry-about/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [I did not worry about the future, Because there was no goal in my life, But today, I have goals for the future, It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/i-did-not-worry-about-the-future-because-there-was-no-goal-in-my-life/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“Forget about the Past; Don't worry about the Future; Live Today!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/forget-about-the-past-don-t-worry-about-the-future-live-today/) [RVM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rvm/) ## 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 Bigs quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-got-in-trouble-my-whole-life-for-having-a-big-mouth/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) [Browse all 15,539 Bigs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was never a \"big thinker\". One of my philosophies in Linux has always been to not worry about the future too much, but make sure that we make the best of what we have now - together with keeping our options open for the future and not digging us into a hole.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Linus Torvalds" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-was-never-a-big-thinker-one-of-my-philosophies-in-linux-has-always/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bigs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-was-never-a-big-thinker-one-of-my-philosophies-in-linux-has-always/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/linus-torvalds-1512_bigs_i-was-never-a-big-thinker-one-of-my-phil_3235595.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/linus-torvalds-1512_bigs_i-was-never-a-big-thinker-one-of-my-phil_3235595.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/linus-torvalds-1512_bigs_i-was-never-a-big-thinker-one-of-my-phil_3235595.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was never a \"big thinker\". One of my philosophies in Linux has always been to not worry about the future…” — Linus Torvalds", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Linus Torvalds", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was never a \"big thinker\"....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-was-never-a-big-thinker-one-of-my-philosophies-in-linux-has-always/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-was-never-a-big-thinker-one-of-my-philosophies-in-linux-has-always/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```