Kevin Kelly Quotes

Every mistake is an opportunity to improvise.

Possession is not as important as it once was. Accessing is more important than ever.

Interview your parents while they are still alive. Keep asking questions while you record. You’ll learn amazing things. Or hire someone to make their story into an oral history, or documentary, or book. This will be a tremendous gift to them and to your family.

The cheapest therapy is to spend time with people who make you laugh.

When you’re checking references for a job applicant, their employer may be prohibited from saying anything negative, so leave or send a message that says, “Get back to me if you highly recommend this applicant as super great.” If they don’t reply, take that as a negative.

In the bowels of the flush toilet we see the archetype for all autonomous mechanical creatures

To cultivate a habit switch your language from “I can or can’t do” to “I do or don’t do.”You shift the weight from a wavering choice to an unwavering identity.

It is no coincidence that 66 percent per year is the same as doubling every 18 months, which is the rate of Moore’s Law.

Over the long term, the future is decided by optimists. To be an optimist you don’t have to ignore the multitude of problems we create; you just have to imagine how much our ability to solve problems improves.

Art is whatever you can get away with.

Every breakthrough is at first laughable and ridiculous. In fact, if it did not start out laughable and ridiculous, it is not a breakthrough.

When you think of someone easy to despise—a tyrant, a murderer, a torturer—don’t wish them harm. Wish that they welcome orphans into their home, and share their food with the hungry. Wish them goodness, and by this compassion you will increase your own happiness.

Experiences are fun, and having influence is rewarding, but only mattering makes us happy. Do stuff that matters.

The value of a network explodes as its membership increases, and then the value explosion sucks in yet more members, compounding the result.

When you lend something, pretend you are gifting. If it is returned, you’ll be surprised and happy.