--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been around long enough to know that…" description: "\"I've been around long enough to know that empires come and empires go, and I can't tell how long the Google empire is going to last - but I'm pretty co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/mitch-kapor-7363_answer_i-ve-been-around-long-enough-to-know-tha_2807900.jpg" --- # I've been around long enough to know that empires come and… ![“I've been around long enough to know that empires come and empires go, and I can't tell how long the Google empire is going to last - but I'm pretty convinced that the answer is less than forever.” quote by Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/mitch-kapor-7363_answer_i-ve-been-around-long-enough-to-know-tha_2807900.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/mitch-kapor-7363_answer_i-ve-been-around-long-enough-to-know-tha_2807900.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/mitch-kapor-7363_answer_i-ve-been-around-long-enough-to-know-tha_2807900.jpg) > “I've been around long enough to know that empires come and empires go, and I can't tell how long the Google empire is going to last - but I'm pretty convinced that the answer is less than forever.” [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on the transient nature of corporate dominance, suggesting that even powerful companies like Google may not endure forever. **In simple terms:** Even big tech companies may eventually decline. Key Takeaway Prepare for change and avoid overreliance on any single entity. Themes impermanence technology power uncertainty Mood cautious analytical Type strategic critical reflective When to use this quote - career decisions - investment strategy - technology adoption - risk management Key Concepts business cycles disruption strategic planning Questions to Reflect On - What factors could sustain a tech empire long-term? - How should individuals and businesses hedge against corporate volatility? A Different Perspective It may underestimate the resilience and adaptability of large tech firms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Empire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empire/) [Empires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empires/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) ## Related quotes > [America is an empire. I hope you know that now. All empires, by definition, are bumbling, shambolic, bullying, bureaucratic affairs, as certain of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/america-is-an-empire-i-hope-you-know-that-now-all-empires-by/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [The day of small nations has passed away; the day of Empires has come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chamberlain/the-day-of-small-nations-has-passed-away-the-day-of-empires-has-come/) [Joseph Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chamberlain/) > [If we think about how long Google spent searching - I think they came around in '98? And, OK, Gmail came in 2004, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/if-we-think-about-how-long-google-spent-searching-i-think-they-came/) [Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/) > [The Roman Empire came to an end, but the Roman people didn't come to an end, so I see the American Empire coming to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-roman-empire-came-to-an-end-but-the-roman-people-didn-t-come-to/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [All empires come to an end, and the American one is no exception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/all-empires-come-to-an-end-and-the-american-one-is-no-exception/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [“Empires come and go, but playgrounds last forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kareem-tayyar/empires-come-and-go-but-playgrounds-last-forever/) Paul Kareem Tayyar > [The day of small nations has long passed away. The day of Empires has come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chamberlain/the-day-of-small-nations-has-long-passed-away-the-day-of-empires-has/) [Joseph Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chamberlain/) > [The American empire should be destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-dugin/the-american-empire-should-be-destroyed/) Aleksandr Dugin > [Every single empire in its official discourse has said that it is not like all the others, that its circumstances are special, that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/every-single-empire-in-its-official-discourse-has-said-that-it-is-not/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [Emma Rothschild's magnificently researched and lucidly written book reveals the many connections and layers of empire without in any way undermining the less edifying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudrangshu-mukherjee/emma-rothschild-s-magnificently-researched-and-lucidly-written-book/) Rudrangshu Mukherjee > [The Romans have provided a lot of writers with a model for various interstellar empires, of course, and no wonder. The Roman Empire is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/the-romans-have-provided-a-lot-of-writers-with-a-model-for-various/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [Anybody who ever built an empire, or changed the world, sat where you are now. And it's \*because\* they sat there that they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bingham/anybody-who-ever-built-an-empire-or-changed-the-world-sat-where-you/) [Ryan Bingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bingham/) > [I don't want a trillion-dollar empire to run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-don-t-want-a-trillion-dollar-empire-to-run/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [My mind to me an empire is,While grace affordeth health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dyer/my-mind-to-me-an-empire-is-while-grace-affordeth-health/) [Edward Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dyer/) > [In the eyes of empire builders men are not men but instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/in-the-eyes-of-empire-builders-men-are-not-men-but-instruments/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## More by Mitch Kapor > [Velano Vascular has developed a simple, game-changing innovation that will improve the way medicine has been practiced for decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/velano-vascular-has-developed-a-simple-game-changing-innovation-that/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [The Internet, the network of networks, is growing at an exponential pace. It's growing so fast, in fact, nobody really knows how many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/the-internet-the-network-of-networks-is-growing-at-an-exponential/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [If only I'd stayed on the West Coast, I might have made something of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/if-only-i-d-stayed-on-the-west-coast-i-might-have-made-something-of/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [I'd always wanted to live in San Francisco, and my circumstances never permitted it. I'm so happy I made the move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/i-d-always-wanted-to-live-in-san-francisco-and-my-circumstances-never/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [When regulations restricting competition are relaxed, nobody's market share is protected. If telephone companies can offer video programming, cable revenue will surely drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/when-regulations-restricting-competition-are-relaxed-nobody-s-market/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [Fundly is at the dynamic intersection of high-growth technology startups, social entrepreneurship, and the exploding world of social media. Kapor Capital is proud to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/fundly-is-at-the-dynamic-intersection-of-high-growth-technology/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [In my case, having knocked around at different jobs helped me get a sense of what the world is actually like and also helped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/in-my-case-having-knocked-around-at-different-jobs-helped-me-get-a/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [I'm like George Lucas, bringing together a creative team that will come up with a unique, well-crafted product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/i-m-like-george-lucas-bringing-together-a-creative-team-that-will/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [You can't be in the tech community... without realizing there's a big shortage of talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/you-can-t-be-in-the-tech-community-without-realizing-there-s-a-big/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [Everyone has a subconscious and automatic preference of this over that. 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Because I’d rather live with the answer than die with the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ellis/and-if-you-can-t-say-yes-answer-anyway-because-i-d-rather-live-with/) Jon Ellis > [“There is a cure and answer to everything, we just haven't found them yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-halimi/there-is-a-cure-and-answer-to-everything-we-just-haven-t-found-them/) [Eve Halimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-halimi/) > [Whenever I'm asked about Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, I always answer: 'Neymar is the best,' not just because of his goals but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/whenever-i-m-asked-about-cristiano-ronaldo-or-lionel-messi-i-always/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [A wiki works best where you're trying to answer a question that you can't easily pose, where there's not a natural structure that's known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/a-wiki-works-best-where-you-re-trying-to-answer-a-question-that-you/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [“Those are good questions. I recognize good questions, because I can come up with them myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/those-are-good-questions-i-recognize-good-questions-because-i-can/) [Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I'll answer anything... I'm brutally honest, actually, which gets me in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-ll-answer-anything-i-m-brutally-honest-actually-which-gets-me-in/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [“...I guess I can put two and two together." "Sometimes the answer's four," I said, "and sometimes it's twenty-two...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-guess-i-can-put-two-and-two-together-sometimes-the-answer-s-four-i/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Jumping someone is never the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jumping-someone-is-never-the-answer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I play along myself, even though I can't help the player. So I can't say what I think the answer might be. But I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-mcguinness/i-play-along-myself-even-though-i-can-t-help-the-player-so-i-can-t/) [Paddy McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-mcguinness/) > [Sometimes the question is complicated, but the answers are simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-suess/sometimes-the-question-is-complicated-but-the-answers-are-simple/) [Dr Suess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-suess/) Browse all 2,090 Answer quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've been around long enough to know that empires come and empires go, and I can't tell how long the Google empire is going to last - but I'm pretty convinced that the answer is less than forever.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mitch Kapor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/i-ve-been-around-long-enough-to-know-that-empires-come-and-empires-go/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/i-ve-been-around-long-enough-to-know-that-empires-come-and-empires-go/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/mitch-kapor-7363_answer_i-ve-been-around-long-enough-to-know-tha_2807900.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/mitch-kapor-7363_answer_i-ve-been-around-long-enough-to-know-tha_2807900.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/mitch-kapor-7363_answer_i-ve-been-around-long-enough-to-know-tha_2807900.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've been around long enough to know that empires come and empires go, and I can't tell how long the Google…” — Mitch Kapor", "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": "Mitch Kapor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've been around long enough to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/i-ve-been-around-long-enough-to-know-that-empires-come-and-empires-go/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/i-ve-been-around-long-enough-to-know-that-empires-come-and-empires-go/#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 } } ] } ```