--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The people most likely to grasp that…" description: "\"“The people most likely to grasp that wealth can be created are the ones who are good at making things, the craftsmen. Their hand-made objects become s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/paul-graham-7010_computer-programmers_the-people-most-likely-to-grasp-that-wea_740394.jpg" --- # The people most likely to grasp that wealth can be created… ![“The people most likely to grasp that wealth can be created are the ones who are good at making things, the craftsmen. Their hand-made objects become store-bought ones. But with the rise of industrialization there are fewer and fewer craftsmen. One of the biggest remaining groups is computer…” quote by Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/paul-graham-7010_computer-programmers_the-people-most-likely-to-grasp-that-wea_740394.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/paul-graham-7010_computer-programmers_the-people-most-likely-to-grasp-that-wea_740394.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/paul-graham-7010_computer-programmers_the-people-most-likely-to-grasp-that-wea_740394.jpg) > ““The people most likely to grasp that wealth can be created are the ones who are good at making things, the craftsmen. Their hand-made objects become store-bought ones. But with the rise of industrialization there are fewer and fewer craftsmen. One of the biggest remaining groups is computer programmers.”” [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The ability to create wealth lies with makers; as industrialization reduces craftsmen, programmers become the primary creators. **In simple terms:** Wealth comes from making things; fewer craftsmen means programmers are key. Key Takeaway Recognize and value the creative role of programmers. Themes innovation economics technology craftsmanship Mood reflective analytical Type observational insightful When to use this quote - startup founding - software development - product design - digital entrepreneurship Key Concepts creative economy digital labor industrial change Questions to Reflect On - How does your work create value? - What skills are becoming more valuable? A Different Perspective The quote may overstate programmers' uniqueness, ignoring other creative professions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computer programmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer-programmers/) [Craftsmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craftsmen-521968/) [Fewer Craftsmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fewer-craftsmen-5781551/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Wealth Created](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth-created-664654/) ## Related quotes > [A doctrine of class war seemed to provide a solution to the problem of poverty to people who know nothing about how wealth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/a-doctrine-of-class-war-seemed-to-provide-a-solution-to-the-problem/) [Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/) > [I am interested in a constructive approach, which looks at how wealth can be created using bright ideas that will help India prosper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-agnihotri/i-am-interested-in-a-constructive-approach-which-looks-at-how-wealth/) [Vivek Agnihotri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-agnihotri/) > [I think once the artistic world of the type designer merged with the scientific world of the computer programmer, you began to see this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bierut/i-think-once-the-artistic-world-of-the-type-designer-merged-with-the/) [Michael Bierut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bierut/) > [There are no standards for computer programmers and no group to certify them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-no-standards-for-computer-programmers-and-no-group-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Trying to outsmart a compiler defeats much of the purpose of using one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kernighan/trying-to-outsmart-a-compiler-defeats-much-of-the-purpose-of-using-one/) [Brian Kernighan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kernighan/) > [The generation of random numbers is too important to be left to chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-coveyou/the-generation-of-random-numbers-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-chance/) [Robert Coveyou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-coveyou/) > [Beauty is more important in computing than anywhere else in technology because software is so complicated. Beauty is the ultimate defense against complexity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gelernter/beauty-is-more-important-in-computing-than-anywhere-else-in/) [David Gelernter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gelernter/) > [When I was at college there were two things I vowed I'd never do. One was go to a funeral and the other was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-cornwell/when-i-was-at-college-there-were-two-things-i-vowed-i-d-never-do-one/) [Patricia Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-cornwell/) > [If you cannot grok the overall structure of a program while taking a shower, you are not ready to code it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-e-pattis/if-you-cannot-grok-the-overall-structure-of-a-program-while-taking-a/) [Richard E. Pattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-e-pattis/) > [“Not craftsmen, my lord" he said. "I have no use for people who have learned the limits of the possible”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/not-craftsmen-my-lord-he-said-i-have-no-use-for-people-who-have/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The streets are full of admirable craftsmen, but so few practical dreamers.” Man Ray”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/the-streets-are-full-of-admirable-craftsmen-but-so-few-practical/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [“When the maker's (or fixer's) activity is immediately situated within a community of use, it can be enlivened by this kind of direct perception.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-the-maker-s-or-fixer-s-activity-is-immediately-situated-within-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It takes a lot of help - nature, friends, family, craftsmen - for me to make what I make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-colen/it-takes-a-lot-of-help-nature-friends-family-craftsmen-for-me-to-make/) [Dan Colen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-colen/) > [“the idea was to make product,” he said. “Working for the community, for the United States, maybe for the world.” Then America decided none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-alexander/the-idea-was-to-make-product-he-said-working-for-the-community-for/) [Brian Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-alexander/) > [The streets are full of admirable craftsmen, but so few practical dreamers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/the-streets-are-full-of-admirable-craftsmen-but-so-few-practical-2/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) ## More by Paul Graham > [“I'm not saying there's no such thing as genius. But if you're trying to choose between two theories and one gives you an excuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/i-m-not-saying-there-s-no-such-thing-as-genius-but-if-you-re-trying/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“This is a good plan for life in general. If you have two choices, choose the harder. If you're trying to decide whether to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/this-is-a-good-plan-for-life-in-general-if-you-have-two-choices/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“When I was a kid I was constantly being told to look at things from someone else’s point of view. What this always meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-constantly-being-told-to-look-at-things-from/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [You know your business model is broken when you're suing your customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/you-know-your-business-model-is-broken-when-you-re-suing-your/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“Hackers are unruly. That is the essence of hacking. And it is also the essence of Americanness. It is no accident that Silicon Valley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/hackers-are-unruly-that-is-the-essence-of-hacking-and-it-is-also-the/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“We often like to think of World War II as a triumph of freedom over totalitarianism. We conveniently forget that the Soviet Union was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/we-often-like-to-think-of-world-war-ii-as-a-triumph-of-freedom-over/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [It's hard to say exactly what it is about face-to-face contact that makes deals happen, but whatever it is, it hasn't yet been duplicated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/it-s-hard-to-say-exactly-what-it-is-about-face-to-face-contact-that/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [One startup I dream of funding is the one that kills the record companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/one-startup-i-dream-of-funding-is-the-one-that-kills-the-record/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“It’s easier to get people to fight for an idea. And whichever side wins, their ideas will also be considered to have triumphed, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/it-s-easier-to-get-people-to-fight-for-an-idea-and-whichever-side/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“Could civil liberties really be a cause, rather than just an effect? I think so. I think a society in which people can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/could-civil-liberties-really-be-a-cause-rather-than-just-an-effect-i/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“A great programmer, on a roll, could create a million dollars worth of wealth in a couple weeks. A mediocre programmer over the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/a-great-programmer-on-a-roll-could-create-a-million-dollars-worth-of/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [We don't have to go that far to sell our beer because our immediate accounts sell so much. Places that sold 10 cases before,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/we-don-t-have-to-go-that-far-to-sell-our-beer-because-our-immediate/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [I get a lot of criticism for telling founders to focus first on making something great, instead of worrying about how to make money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/i-get-a-lot-of-criticism-for-telling-founders-to-focus-first-on/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“So the optimal plan, if you can manage it, is to have a few trusted friends you can speak openly to. This is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/so-the-optimal-plan-if-you-can-manage-it-is-to-have-a-few-trusted/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“Public school teachers are in much the same position as prison wardens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/public-school-teachers-are-in-much-the-same-position-as-prison-wardens/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) [Explore all 94 Paul Graham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) ## More Computer programmers quotes > [I think once the artistic world of the type designer merged with the scientific world of the computer programmer, you began to see this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bierut/i-think-once-the-artistic-world-of-the-type-designer-merged-with-the/) [Michael Bierut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bierut/) > [If you cannot grok the overall structure of a program while taking a shower, you are not ready to code it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-e-pattis/if-you-cannot-grok-the-overall-structure-of-a-program-while-taking-a/) [Richard E. Pattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-e-pattis/) > [When I was at college there were two things I vowed I'd never do. One was go to a funeral and the other was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-cornwell/when-i-was-at-college-there-were-two-things-i-vowed-i-d-never-do-one/) [Patricia Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-cornwell/) > [Beauty is more important in computing than anywhere else in technology because software is so complicated. Beauty is the ultimate defense against complexity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gelernter/beauty-is-more-important-in-computing-than-anywhere-else-in/) [David Gelernter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gelernter/) > [The generation of random numbers is too important to be left to chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-coveyou/the-generation-of-random-numbers-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-chance/) [Robert Coveyou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-coveyou/) > [Trying to outsmart a compiler defeats much of the purpose of using one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kernighan/trying-to-outsmart-a-compiler-defeats-much-of-the-purpose-of-using-one/) [Brian Kernighan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kernighan/) > [There are no standards for computer programmers and no group to certify them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-no-standards-for-computer-programmers-and-no-group-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Programming languages, like pizzas, come in only too sizes; too big and too small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-e-pattis/programming-languages-like-pizzas-come-in-only-too-sizes-too-big-and/) [Richard E. Pattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-e-pattis/) > [ It's \[programming\] the only job I can think of where I get to be both an engineer and an artist. There's an incredible, rigorous,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hertzfeld/it-s-programming-the-only-job-i-can-think-of-where-i-get-to-be-both/) [Andy Hertzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hertzfeld/) > [As soon as we started programming, we found to our surprise that it wasn't as easy to get programs right as we had thought.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-wilkes/as-soon-as-we-started-programming-we-found-to-our-surprise-that-it/) [Maurice Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-wilkes/) > [Computer programmers tend, by and large, to be quirky and highly individualistic. Trying to organize or manage such awkward characters is normally as thankless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naughton/computer-programmers-tend-by-and-large-to-be-quirky-and-highly/) [John Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naughton/) > [Computer programmers do it byte by byte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/computer-programmers-do-it-byte-by-byte/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/when-i-m-working-on-a-problem-i-never-think-about-beauty-i-think-only/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [“Her team had become NASA’s first computer programmers. The women still worked closely with the engineers, almost all of whom were men, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-holt/her-team-had-become-nasa-s-first-computer-programmers-the-women-still/) [Nathalia Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-holt/) > [I think that computer programming shows in my writing. Often when I write about computer programmers I'll write about the way that they see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/i-think-that-computer-programming-shows-in-my-writing-often-when-i/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) [Browse all 67 Computer programmers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer-programmers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The people most likely to grasp that wealth can be created are the ones who are good at making things, the craftsmen. Their hand-made objects become store-bought ones. 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