--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are lots of Linux users who don't…" description: "\"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 how good Linux is.\" — Linus Torvalds" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/linus-torvalds-1512_care_there-are-lots-of-linux-users-who-don-t_515352.jpg" --- # There are lots of Linux users who don't care how the… ![“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 how good Linux is.” quote by Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/linus-torvalds-1512_care_there-are-lots-of-linux-users-who-don-t_515352.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/linus-torvalds-1512_care_there-are-lots-of-linux-users-who-don-t_515352.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/linus-torvalds-1512_care_there-are-lots-of-linux-users-who-don-t_515352.jpg) > “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 how good Linux is.” [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. Many users appreciate Linux without understanding its inner workings, highlighting the system’s usability and robustness. **In simple terms:** Users love Linux even if they don’t know how it works. Key Takeaway Value tools that are powerful yet user‑friendly. Themes technology usability community Mood practical optimistic Type advice observational When to use this quote - personal computing - education - enterprise servers - developer onboarding Key Concepts open source software design Questions to Reflect On - Do you prioritize ease of use over deep knowledge? - How can you learn more without breaking functionality? A Different Perspective Relying on abstraction can hide critical issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Don-t-care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-t-care/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Linux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-linux-2278235/) [Kernel Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kernel-works-2278234/) [Linux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/linux/) [Linux Users](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/linux-users-2278233/) [Lots Linux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lots-linux-4358711/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Tribute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribute/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Users](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/users/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [There are lots of Linux users who don't care how the kernel works but only want to use it is not only a tribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/there-are-lots-of-linux-users-who-don-t-care-how-the-kernel-works-but-2/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I don't have any authority over Linux other than this notion that I know what I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-don-t-have-any-authority-over-linux-other-than-this-notion-that-i/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I don't try to be a threat to MicroSoft, mainly because I don't really see MS as competition. Especially not Windows-the goals of Linux…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-don-t-try-to-be-a-threat-to-microsoft-mainly-because-i-don-t-really/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [There's innovation in Linux. There are some really good technical features that I'm proud of. There are capabilities in Linux that aren't in other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/there-s-innovation-in-linux-there-are-some-really-good-technical/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [What commercialism has brought to Linux has been the incentive to make a good distribution that is easy to use and that has all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/what-commercialism-has-brought-to-linux-has-been-the-incentive-to/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [The Linux kernel is under the GPL version 2. Not anything else. Some individual files are licensable under v3, but not the kernel in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/the-linux-kernel-is-under-the-gpl-version-2-not-anything-else-some/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [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/) > [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 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/) > [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". 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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 Care quotes > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/) [Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [I certainly do care for you Jeff Campbell less than you are always thinking and much more than you are ever knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-certainly-do-care-for-you-jeff-campbell-less-than-you-are-always/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [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/) > [What makes you care about nature, about the planet? 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