--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What does it mean to be an 'open source'…" description: "\"“What does it mean to be an 'open source' society? What does one mean when one says one has an 'open mind'? Open source means that its a society everyb..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/martinus-hendrikus-benders-182_mediocrity_what-does-it-mean-to-be-an-open-source-s_2431583.jpg" --- # What does it mean to be an 'open source' society? What… ![“What does it mean to be an 'open source' society? What does one mean when one says one has an 'open mind'? Open source means that its a society everybody can work on improving. It has a synergy that allows the best minds to float on top, since there is no entropical hierarchy of mediocrity - once…” quote by Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/martinus-hendrikus-benders-182_mediocrity_what-does-it-mean-to-be-an-open-source-s_2431583.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/martinus-hendrikus-benders-182_mediocrity_what-does-it-mean-to-be-an-open-source-s_2431583.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/martinus-hendrikus-benders-182_mediocrity_what-does-it-mean-to-be-an-open-source-s_2431583.jpg) > ““What does it mean to be an 'open source' society? What does one mean when one says one has an 'open mind'? Open source means that its a society everybody can work on improving. It has a synergy that allows the best minds to float on top, since there is no entropical hierarchy of mediocrity - once everything stays fluid there is the odd chance for genius elements to actually lead. Such is the case now in Turkey. The protesters are a fluid synergy that have no entropical leadership, and thus the most brilliant PR moves are made by the resistance, who are opposed by the worst sort of mediocrity that is totally at odds with reality. An 'open mind' follows a similar process, but in this case the entropy hides in the hierarchy of ideas that is implanted in the brain: once a person follows mediocre ideas - such as the 'idea' that 'marriage is the meaning of life' or 'having a job is the purpose of existence' etc - then the phenomenon of the 'open mind' becomes already impossible, for there is an internal hierarchy of entropy present that will prevent any sort of original impulse to have the meaning it truly has. Hence, the only way to escape the mediocrity of ones own mind is to allow anything to build and revise it.”” [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An open source society thrives when everyone can contribute, avoiding rigid hierarchies that stifle brilliance; similarly, an open mind requires shedding internal hierarchies of ideas to allow genuine creativity. **In simple terms:** Open collaboration beats rigid hierarchy; mental openness needs idea fluidity. Key Takeaway Encourage inclusive participation and challenge entrenched beliefs. Themes collaboration creativity hierarchy mindset societal change Mood hopeful critical inspirational Type philosophical motivational reflective When to use this quote - community projects - grassroots activism - personal development - education reform Key Concepts systems theory cognitive flexibility social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What hierarchies in your life block creativity? - How can you foster fluid collaboration in your community? A Different Perspective Rigid structures can still dominate despite openness, limiting true innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mean Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean-open-287998/) [Means Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-society-287996/) [Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) [Mind Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-open/) [Open mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-mind/) [Open source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-source/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [If you want to find out what it means to have a society without any rituals, read the New York Times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-you-want-to-find-out-what-it-means-to-have-a-society-without-any/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Democracy as a promise means that society can never be just enough and that the self-reflection and struggles that enable all members of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/democracy-as-a-promise-means-that-society-can-never-be-just-enough/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [The American Dream means being part of a society that allows you to be or do whatever you want, and to have a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/the-american-dream-means-being-part-of-a-society-that-allows-you-to/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I don't understand some people's thought process...their opinions...their point of views. But I'll stand by with an open mind and open heart, because sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-b/i-don-t-understand-some-people-s-thought-process-their-opinions-their/) [Becca B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-b/) > [When you open yourself to the continually changing, impermanent, dynamic nature of your own being and of reality, you increase your capacity to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/when-you-open-yourself-to-the-continually-changing-impermanent-2/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“Keep an open mind, but no so open that your brains fall out”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oberg/keep-an-open-mind-but-no-so-open-that-your-brains-fall-out/) [James Oberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oberg/) > [“When you open your mind, you open new doors to new possibilities for yourself and new opportunities to help others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bennett/when-you-open-your-mind-you-open-new-doors-to-new-possibilities-for/) [Roy Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bennett/) > [If your mind is open to opposing ideas, your intelligence will go up. If your mind is closed to opposing ideas, your ignorance is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/if-your-mind-is-open-to-opposing-ideas-your-intelligence-will-go-up/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [The most important thing is having the right mind - a mind that can see it. Once you have an open mind, you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/the-most-important-thing-is-having-the-right-mind-a-mind-that-can-see/) [Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/) > [“as astronomer Carl Sagan once aptly put it, you do not want to keep your mind so open that your brain is likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/as-astronomer-carl-sagan-once-aptly-put-it-you-do-not-want-to-keep/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [Until the mind is open, the heart stays closed. The open mind is the key to the open heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/until-the-mind-is-open-the-heart-stays-closed-the-open-mind-is-the/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [When you open yourself to the continually changing, impermanent, dynamic nature of your own being. Youre able to keep your eyes open, your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-open-yourself-to-the-continually-changing-impermanent/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A person who has power has an open mind. Their mind is open and they can see on other levels. Seeing is a quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-person-who-has-power-has-an-open-mind-their-mind-is-open-and-they/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“An open mind with an open hear opens doors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/an-open-mind-with-an-open-hear-opens-doors/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [Education turns an empty mind into an open mind. It turns information into behavioural transformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-khera/education-turns-an-empty-mind-into-an-open-mind-it-turns-information/) [Shiv Khera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-khera/) ## More by Martinus Hendrikus Benders > [“Not to mention the fact that the belief in conspiracy theories is already a form of conspiracy theory in itself. It's to me not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/not-to-mention-the-fact-that-the-belief-in-conspiracy-theories-is/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) > [“Last week I wrote that the reason Hollywood films are so bad last 10 years is that all the better scriptwriters were hired by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/last-week-i-wrote-that-the-reason-hollywood-films-are-so-bad-last-10/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) > [“Thinking outside the box' is ridiculous nonsense, since whatever you can do in a 'box' or closed environment is not 'thinking'. If I 'think'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/thinking-outside-the-box-is-ridiculous-nonsense-since-whatever-you/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) > [“Mr Rutger cornet de Groot. Never read any American poetry or any other foreign poetry, which is why he always mentions 2 poets as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/mr-rutger-cornet-de-groot-never-read-any-american-poetry-or-any-other/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) > [“What is the role of intellectuals in Europe? There's this debate in which all speakers do not appear to me to even be intellectuals.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/what-is-the-role-of-intellectuals-in-europe-there-s-this-debate-in/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) > [“Something went greatly wrong in our collective history and the starting point of it was the industrial revolution. Our school systems are focussed on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/something-went-greatly-wrong-in-our-collective-history-and-the/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) > [“I think i am too chaotic to ever get depressed. Depression somehow requires an ordered mind where the depression can get hold. Depressions just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/i-think-i-am-too-chaotic-to-ever-get-depressed-depression-somehow/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) > [“If you ask me, I think Jerry Springer destroyed the public image of the USA. I mean up to early in the nineties I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/if-you-ask-me-i-think-jerry-springer-destroyed-the-public-image-of/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) > [“My Latin girlfriend sees me read, snigger, read on intensily and said "you look like someone who is attacked by a butterfly "" mails…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/my-latin-girlfriend-sees-me-read-snigger-read-on-intensily-and-said/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) > [“Talent is 98% hard work - even Brel said so. The best signal for lack of talent is therefore quite simply low production. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/talent-is-98-hard-work-even-brel-said-so-the-best-signal-for-lack-of/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) > [“Remember this: a simple pen is much more swift and much more precise than a camera. That's my advice to both beginning and experienced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/remember-this-a-simple-pen-is-much-more-swift-and-much-more-precise/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) > [“I have female friends that get mails from publishers that read 'Hey. I heard you write about sex. This is a very popular topic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/i-have-female-friends-that-get-mails-from-publishers-that-read-hey-i/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) > [“I have always said that whomever has limited preferences cannot be a critic, for the same reason some guy who only likes blondes cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/i-have-always-said-that-whomever-has-limited-preferences-cannot-be-a/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) > [“Movements in literature were not caricatures - in the sense that they actually functioned as an ideology in politics does. As now a monopolistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/movements-in-literature-were-not-caricatures-in-the-sense-that-they/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) > [“Every writer on this planet THINKS he is a great writer (why waste your entire life writing when you believe you are mediocre?) but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/every-writer-on-this-planet-thinks-he-is-a-great-writer-why-waste/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) [Explore all 35 Martinus Hendrikus Benders quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) ## More Mediocrity quotes > [Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/mediocrity-knows-nothing-higher-than-itself-but-talent-instantly/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Christianity does not oppose debauchery and uncontrollable passions and the like as much as it opposes... flat mediocrity, this nauseating atmosphere, this homey, civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christianity-does-not-oppose-debauchery-and-uncontrollable-passions/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [It is an error common to many artists, who strive merely to avoid mistakes, when all our efforts should be to create positive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/it-is-an-error-common-to-many-artists-who-strive-merely-to-avoid/) [Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/) > [Only mediocrity can be trusted to be always at its best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/only-mediocrity-can-be-trusted-to-be-always-at-its-best/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [If you want to be average, do what others do. If you want to be awesome, do what no one does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-den-heijer/if-you-want-to-be-average-do-what-others-do-if-you-want-to-be-awesome/) [Alexander Den Heijer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-den-heijer/) > [There has been an obvious effort to play it safe, to make 'Bonanza' a good family show that would offend no one and hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pernell-roberts/there-has-been-an-obvious-effort-to-play-it-safe-to-make-bonanza-a/) [Pernell Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pernell-roberts/) > [Philadelphians are every whit as mediocre as their neighbors, but they seldom encourage each other in mediocrity by giving it a more agreeable name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/philadelphians-are-every-whit-as-mediocre-as-their-neighbors-but-they/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Once you decide that mediocrity is unthinkable, your only choices are excellence and quitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-murray/once-you-decide-that-mediocrity-is-unthinkable-your-only-choices-are/) [Nick Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-murray/) > [At independence Kenya's economic indicators were equal to those of South Korea, but 45 years down the road, Korea's economy is 40 times that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raila-odinga/at-independence-kenya-s-economic-indicators-were-equal-to-those-of/) [Raila Odinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raila-odinga/) > [Trying to be cool is the easiest path to mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-crews/trying-to-be-cool-is-the-easiest-path-to-mediocrity/) [Terry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-crews/) > [All greatness of character is dependent on individuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/all-greatness-of-character-is-dependent-on-individuality/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [When Americans decry our politicians, we must remember that ultimately, politicians reflect us. When we demand more than mediocrity - and the passing comforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-strock/when-americans-decry-our-politicians-we-must-remember-that-ultimately/) [James M Strock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-strock/) > [We will meet our challenges head on and we will do it by rejecting the politics of mediocrity and corruption. You voted for change;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-blagojevich/we-will-meet-our-challenges-head-on-and-we-will-do-it-by-rejecting/) [Rod Blagojevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-blagojevich/) > [The greatest danger to Christianity is, I contend, not heresies, not heterodoxies, not atheists, not profane secularism - no, but the kind of orthodoxy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/the-greatest-danger-to-christianity-is-i-contend-not-heresies-not/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) [Browse all 929 Mediocrity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What does it mean to be an 'open source' society? What does one mean when one says one has an 'open mind'? Open source means that its a society everybody can work on improving. 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