--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the reasons I like open source is…" description: "\"One of the reasons I like open source is that it allows people to work on the parts they are good at, and I don't mean just on a technical level; some ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/linus-torvalds-1512_levels_one-of-the-reasons-i-like-open-source-is_2189170.jpg" --- # One of the reasons I like open source is that it allows… ![“One of the reasons I like open source is that it allows people to work on the parts they are good at, and I don't mean just on a technical level; some people are into the whole selling and support, and that's just not me.” quote by Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/linus-torvalds-1512_levels_one-of-the-reasons-i-like-open-source-is_2189170.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/linus-torvalds-1512_levels_one-of-the-reasons-i-like-open-source-is_2189170.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/linus-torvalds-1512_levels_one-of-the-reasons-i-like-open-source-is_2189170.jpg) > “One of the reasons I like open source is that it allows people to work on the parts they are good at, and I don't mean just on a technical level; some people are into the whole selling and support, and that's just not me.” [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. Open source thrives when people contribute where their strengths lie, not just technically. **In simple terms:** People work best at what they’re good at. Key Takeaway Focus on your strengths in collaboration. Themes collaboration strengths open source Mood enthusiastic pragmatic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - software development - community projects - mentorship Key Concepts skill alignment team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What strengths do you bring to a team? - How can you support others’ strengths? A Different Perspective Not all contributions are equally visible or valued. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Open source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-source/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Selling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selling/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [Being open source meant that I could work on the technical side (along with lots of other people), and others who had the interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/being-open-source-meant-that-i-could-work-on-the-technical-side-along/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Actors are always looking for actor-proof parts. A part so good you can't screw it up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/actors-are-always-looking-for-actor-proof-parts-a-part-so-good-you/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [I have an affinity for good roles in good films. I like a variety of parts, and if some of the good stuff happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-fahey/i-have-an-affinity-for-good-roles-in-good-films-i-like-a-variety-of/) [Jeff Fahey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-fahey/) > [“But that doesn't mean that the good parts get any less good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-sorensen/but-that-doesn-t-mean-that-the-good-parts-get-any-less-good/) [Jessica Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-sorensen/) > [One of the questions I've always hated answering is how do people make money in open source. And I think that Caldera and Red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/one-of-the-questions-i-ve-always-hated-answering-is-how-do-people/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [There were open source projects and free software before Linux was there. Linux in many ways is one of the more visible and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/there-were-open-source-projects-and-free-software-before-linux-was/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [In real open source, you have the right to control your own destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/in-real-open-source-you-have-the-right-to-control-your-own-destiny/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [It just makes it even harder for people to even approach the (open source) side, when they then end up having to worry about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/it-just-makes-it-even-harder-for-people-to-even-approach-the-open/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Any actress - goodness, we're lucky to be working. We all know that. There are few parts, a few good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosamund-pike/any-actress-goodness-we-re-lucky-to-be-working-we-all-know-that-there/) [Rosamund Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosamund-pike/) > [The only parts I like out of any of those women books is the dirty parts. But I don't think their dirty parts are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/the-only-parts-i-like-out-of-any-of-those-women-books-is-the-dirty/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [In open source, we feel strongly that to really do something well, you have to get a lot of people involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/in-open-source-we-feel-strongly-that-to-really-do-something-well-you/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I often compare open source to science. To where science took this whole notion of developing ideas in the open and improving on other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-often-compare-open-source-to-science-to-where-science-took-this/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [It's always nice to have people say you're good-looking. But I do get told I'm not right for parts because I'm too good-looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-penry-jones/it-s-always-nice-to-have-people-say-you-re-good-looking-but-i-do-get/) [Rupert Penry-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-penry-jones/) > [While we ended up having several core maintainers use BitKeeper - it was free to use for open source projects - it never got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/while-we-ended-up-having-several-core-maintainers-use-bitkeeper-it/) [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 Levels quotes > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) > [Perhaps our own opposition to even the level of European integration we have now, let alone any more, is well known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/perhaps-our-own-opposition-to-even-the-level-of-european-integration/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [I think the public doesn't understand that one of the reasons I haven't stood up for myself is because in order to do that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-broadwell/i-think-the-public-doesn-t-understand-that-one-of-the-reasons-i-haven/) [Paula Broadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-broadwell/) > [We've all seen talented young players who get to a certain level but there comes a point where that talent will only take you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/we-ve-all-seen-talented-young-players-who-get-to-a-certain-level-but/) [Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/) > [It is amazing how may drivers, even at the Formula One Level, think that the brakes are for slowing the car down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/it-is-amazing-how-may-drivers-even-at-the-formula-one-level-think/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am not a great believer in dialectical struggle. 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Casti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-casti/) Browse all 7,256 Levels quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of the reasons I like open source is that it allows people to work on the parts they are good at, and I don't mean just on a technical level; some people are into the whole selling and support, and that's just not me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Linus Torvalds" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/one-of-the-reasons-i-like-open-source-is-that-it-allows-people-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Levels" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/one-of-the-reasons-i-like-open-source-is-that-it-allows-people-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/linus-torvalds-1512_levels_one-of-the-reasons-i-like-open-source-is_2189170.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/linus-torvalds-1512_levels_one-of-the-reasons-i-like-open-source-is_2189170.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/linus-torvalds-1512_levels_one-of-the-reasons-i-like-open-source-is_2189170.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One of the reasons I like open source is that it allows people to work on the parts they are good at, and I…” — 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": "One of the reasons I like...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/one-of-the-reasons-i-like-open-source-is-that-it-allows-people-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/one-of-the-reasons-i-like-open-source-is-that-it-allows-people-to/#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 } } ] } ```