--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a technologist by origin and by…" description: "\"I'm a technologist by origin and by training, but I'm focused on philanthropy.\" — Pierre Omidyar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/pierre-omidyar-9759_charity_i-m-a-technologist-by-origin-and-by-trai_2552406.jpg" --- # I'm a technologist by origin and by training, but I'm… ![“I'm a technologist by origin and by training, but I'm focused on philanthropy.” quote by Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/pierre-omidyar-9759_charity_i-m-a-technologist-by-origin-and-by-trai_2552406.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/pierre-omidyar-9759_charity_i-m-a-technologist-by-origin-and-by-trai_2552406.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/pierre-omidyar-9759_charity_i-m-a-technologist-by-origin-and-by-trai_2552406.jpg) > “I'm a technologist by origin and by training, but I'm focused on philanthropy.” [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A technologist can apply technical expertise to charitable endeavors, merging skill with purpose. **In simple terms:** Tech skills aid philanthropy. Key Takeaway Leverage tech for good. Themes philanthropy technology purpose Mood inspirational determined Type thought‑provoking call‑to‑action When to use this quote - non‑profit tech - social startups - volunteer projects Key Concepts social entrepreneurship impact investing Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate tech into your giving? - What causes align with your expertise? A Different Perspective Balancing profit and altruism is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Origin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/origin/) [Philanthropy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philanthropy/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) ## Related quotes > [For my first five years of weightlifting, every part of my training was focused on technique. My starting position, my pull from the ground,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-fraser/for-my-first-five-years-of-weightlifting-every-part-of-my-training/) [Mat Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-fraser/) > [I just spent my whole life training and focused on one thing, I really don't even think about after the fact! It's like, oh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabby-douglas/i-just-spent-my-whole-life-training-and-focused-on-one-thing-i-really/) [Gabby Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabby-douglas/) > [A lot of my training focused not just on the exercise but my diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hoy/a-lot-of-my-training-focused-not-just-on-the-exercise-but-my-diet/) [Chris Hoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hoy/) > [Technology as the knack of eliminating the world as resistance,... the technologist's worldlessness… My mistake lay in the factthat we technologists try to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-frisch/technology-as-the-knack-of-eliminating-the-world-as-resistance-the/) [Max Frisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-frisch/) > [The modern technologist is less 'sorcerer' and more 'sorcerer's apprentice'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/the-modern-technologist-is-less-sorcerer-and-more-sorcerer-s/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [One of the things that really gets me excited and makes me start up companies is the fact that you can basically build something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anousheh-ansari/one-of-the-things-that-really-gets-me-excited-and-makes-me-start-up/) [Anousheh Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anousheh-ansari/) > [I always knew I wanted to be a technologist, so I went to Duke and got a degree in computer science and electrical engineering.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-patzer/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-be-a-technologist-so-i-went-to-duke-and-got/) [Aaron Patzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-patzer/) > [People say to me that I'm a role model in technology, but it makes me laugh, because I'm not a technologist, I'm a journalist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-gardner/people-say-to-me-that-i-m-a-role-model-in-technology-but-it-makes-me/) [Sue Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-gardner/) > [In the same way that you're driven in your business to keep innovating - Facebook is a wonderful example of constant innovation - think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/in-the-same-way-that-you-re-driven-in-your-business-to-keep/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [“A name is a powerful thing. It sets one apart and gives significance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-khoury/a-name-is-a-powerful-thing-it-sets-one-apart-and-gives-significance/) [Jessica Khoury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-khoury/) > [I felt 'Quantum of Solace' completely lost its way. We were lucky on 'Casino Royale:' it was the origin story of Bond. Bond had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-campbell/i-felt-quantum-of-solace-completely-lost-its-way-we-were-lucky-on/) [Martin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-campbell/) > [One of the great issues in biology is the origin of altruism - of why you would do something for someone else that could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/one-of-the-great-issues-in-biology-is-the-origin-of-altruism-of-why/) [Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/) > [I feel very German - and who can make himself a judge over what is German and what is not - in my ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gropius/i-feel-very-german-and-who-can-make-himself-a-judge-over-what-is/) [Walter Gropius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gropius/) > [“Do you know the Ai'oan word for heart? he asks. I shake my head. "It's py'a." We're so close, his whisper is right in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-khoury/do-you-know-the-ai-oan-word-for-heart-he-asks-i-shake-my-head-it-s-py/) [Jessica Khoury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-khoury/) > [When scientists are asked what they are working on, their response is seldom 'Finding the origin of the universe' or 'Seeking to cure cancer.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/when-scientists-are-asked-what-they-are-working-on-their-response-is/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) ## More by Pierre Omidyar > [eBay's business is based on enabling someone to do business with another person, and to do that, they first have to develop some measure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/ebay-s-business-is-based-on-enabling-someone-to-do-business-with/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [I built a system simple enough to sustain itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/i-built-a-system-simple-enough-to-sustain-itself/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [If you give people the opportunity to do the right thing, you'll rarely be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/if-you-give-people-the-opportunity-to-do-the-right-thing-you-ll/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [When you don't know what to expect, prepare for the unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/when-you-don-t-know-what-to-expect-prepare-for-the-unexpected/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [A well-functioning microfinance bank can actually be a profitable business as well. So it became a perfect proof point that, through business, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/a-well-functioning-microfinance-bank-can-actually-be-a-profitable/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [You should pursue your passion. If you're passionate about something and you work hard, then I think you'll be successful. If you start a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/you-should-pursue-your-passion-if-you-re-passionate-about-something/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [In terms of my belief that one individual can make a difference - that belief comes from my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/in-terms-of-my-belief-that-one-individual-can-make-a-difference-that/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [Microloans enable the poor to lift themselves out of poverty through entrepreneurship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/microloans-enable-the-poor-to-lift-themselves-out-of-poverty-through/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [You have to really believe in what you're doing, be passionate enough about it so that you will put in the hours and hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/you-have-to-really-believe-in-what-you-re-doing-be-passionate-enough/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [People were doing business with one another through the Internet already, through bulletin boards. But on the Web, we could make it interactive, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/people-were-doing-business-with-one-another-through-the-internet/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [I was raised with the notion that you can do pretty much do anything you want. I always kind of just went ahead and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/i-was-raised-with-the-notion-that-you-can-do-pretty-much-do-anything/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [Everyone is born equally capable but lacks equal opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/everyone-is-born-equally-capable-but-lacks-equal-opportunity/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [You should pursue your passion. If you're passionate about something and you work hard, then I think you will be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/you-should-pursue-your-passion-if-you-re-passionate-about-something-2/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [Technologists come at a problem from the point of view that the system is working a certain way, and if I engage in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/technologists-come-at-a-problem-from-the-point-of-view-that-the/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [I developed an interest in supporting independent journalists in a way that leverages their work to the greatest extent possible, all in support of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/i-developed-an-interest-in-supporting-independent-journalists-in-a/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) [Explore all 70 Pierre Omidyar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) ## More Charity quotes > [The greatest charity you can contribute to is yourself. Instead of spending a dollar to help feed hungry children, why not spend that dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-greatest-charity-you-can-contribute-to-is-yourself-instead-of/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I would have none of that rigid circumspect charity which is never done without scrutiny, and which always mistrusts the truth of the necessities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-massillon/i-would-have-none-of-that-rigid-circumspect-charity-which-is-never/) [Jean Baptiste Massillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-massillon/) > [I'm publicist, patron of nine charities, creative director, food consultant, recipe developer - and mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-m-publicist-patron-of-nine-charities-creative-director-food/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [The next time you're looking at a charity, don't ask about the rate of their overhead. Ask about the scale of their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) F. A. Harper > [I shall pray God to send charity into this hideous world, and sympathy for the weak, and love for the unhappy and unfortunate. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wyndham/i-shall-pray-god-to-send-charity-into-this-hideous-world-and-sympathy/) [John Wyndham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wyndham/) > [It is thus only this personal feeling of misery that we get rid of by acts of pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-is-thus-only-this-personal-feeling-of-misery-that-we-get-rid-of-by/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Considering community support and cost-benefit analysis, I have supported earmarks for projects of high public purpose involving such areas as higher education, alternative energy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-fortenberry/considering-community-support-and-cost-benefit-analysis-i-have/) [Jeff Fortenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-fortenberry/) > [It's always great to be able to give back to the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-vucevic/it-s-always-great-to-be-able-to-give-back-to-the-community/) [Nikola Vucevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-vucevic/) > [Slander is a poison which kills charity, both in the slanderer and the one who listens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/slander-is-a-poison-which-kills-charity-both-in-the-slanderer-and-the/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [I like to give back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/i-like-to-give-back/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [We have to restore power to the family, to the neighborhood, and the community with a non-market principle, a principle of equality, of charity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/we-have-to-restore-power-to-the-family-to-the-neighborhood-and-the/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [“It takes a female to have a baby, It takes a woman to raise a child, It takes a mother to raise them correctly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-takes-a-female-to-have-a-baby-it-takes-a-woman-to-raise-a-child-it/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I own about 300 pairs of shoes. When I start to go over 300, I have mini-sales from my closet and give the money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/i-own-about-300-pairs-of-shoes-when-i-start-to-go-over-300-i-have/) [Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/) [Browse all 2,477 Charity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm a technologist by origin and by training, but I'm focused on philanthropy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pierre Omidyar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/i-m-a-technologist-by-origin-and-by-training-but-i-m-focused-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Charity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/i-m-a-technologist-by-origin-and-by-training-but-i-m-focused-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/pierre-omidyar-9759_charity_i-m-a-technologist-by-origin-and-by-trai_2552406.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/pierre-omidyar-9759_charity_i-m-a-technologist-by-origin-and-by-trai_2552406.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/pierre-omidyar-9759_charity_i-m-a-technologist-by-origin-and-by-trai_2552406.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm a technologist by origin and by training, but I'm focused on philanthropy.” — Pierre Omidyar", "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": "Pierre Omidyar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm a technologist by origin and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/i-m-a-technologist-by-origin-and-by-training-but-i-m-focused-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/i-m-a-technologist-by-origin-and-by-training-but-i-m-focused-on/#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 } } ] } ```