Digital Quote by Mark Shuttleworth
“Free software is part of a broader phenomenon, which is a shift toward recognizing the value of shared work. Historically, shared stuff had a very bad name. The reputation was that people always abused shared things, and in the physical world, something that is shared and abused becomes worthless. In the digital world, I think we have the inverse effect, where something that is shared can become more valuable than something that is closely held, as long as it is both shared and contributed to by everybody who is sharing in it.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Open Source Advocacy, 2005
Shared digital work can increase value, unlike physical goods where sharing often leads to degradation.
In simple terms: Sharing digital work can boost its value.
Key Takeaway
Embrace collaboration to enhance value.
Themes
collaboration
open source
value creation
digital economy
community
Mood
optimistic
inspirational
analytical
Type
philosophical
motivational
pragmatic
When to use this quote
- software development
- educational resources
- open data platforms
- community projects
- crowdsourced research
Key Concepts
network effects
commons-based peer production
trust
innovation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we ensure equitable contribution?
- What incentives sustain long‑term collaboration?
A Different Perspective
If contributions are uneven, shared resources may suffer quality issues.
![“It's clear that other problems such as [...] the domination of business over government, science, thought, and society, are much bigger than non-free software.” quote by Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d10/richard-stallman-4048_bigger_it-s-clear-that-other-problems-such-as-t_1960129.jpg)
