Swartz Quotes & Sayings

I have developed my most meaningful relationships online. None of them live within driving distance. None of them are about my own age. — Aaron Swartz

Writing an encyclopedia is hard. To do anywhere near a decent job, you have to know a great deal of information about an incredibly wide variety of subjects. Writing so much text is difficult, but doing all the background research seems impossible. — Aaron Swartz

Seriously, who really cares how long the Nile river is, or who was the first to discover cheese? How is memorizing that ever going to help anyone? Instead, we need to give kids projects that allow them to exercise their minds and discover things for themselves. — Aaron Swartz

My heart- dammit
my heart stopped in my chest as I stared at them. He had me by the throat because he had my whole world in his hands. I said one word I thought I'd never utter to the bastard.
"Please." I swallowed hard, but the words came out easier than I could've ever imagined. "Please don't hurt her."
"You'd beg for a human who wouldn't do the same for you?"
"I'd do anything for her."
"And I would do anything for him." Kat gasped out. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

Through the Internet, I've developed a strong social network - something I could never do if I had to keep my choice of peers within school grounds. — Aaron Swartz

interconnected vision for sociology as science and sociology as political engagement is not well understood, — David L. Swartz

Daemon: Ever hear the saying you catch more lions with honey than vinegar?
Katy: I think it's 'catch more bees' and not lions.
Daemon: Whatever. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

I thinks Its cute that you call my house Home. By the way, it Is my house. My name is on the deed. - Daemon Black — Jennifer L. Armentrout

In meditation and/or intense life interfaces, our personal view is often superseded by Self's, causing our apparent reality and all of it's limitations to disappear. — James R. Swartz

One of the things I love about you is how protective you are, but it also drives me crazy. You can't protect me forever.
Oh, I could so do that. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

The adults were completely wrong. — Aaron Swartz

Did you think you could stop me? I'll burn the world down to save her. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

To Daemon, my arrival was the beginning of the end. The apocalypse. Kat-mageddon. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

You made me happy. And I still care about you. Okay? You mean something to me - something I can't really even put into words because everything seems too lame in comparison. I've always wanted you, even when I hated you. I want you even though you drive me freaking insane. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

Seriously, though, the bouncer won't be a problem. I think he liked me." - Daemon
"W-w-What?" - Katy
"I think he liked me, like, really liked me." - Daemon
"Your ego knows no limit, you know that?." - Katy
"You'll see. I know these kinds of things." - Daemon — Jennifer L. Armentrout

What if there was a library which held every book? Not every book on sale, or every important book, or even every book in English, but simply every book - a key part of our planet's cultural legacy. — Aaron Swartz

He hasn't even eaten at Olive Garden, so I doubt he's a connoisseur of hotels." - Kat
"No Olive Garden? Man, we've got to get that boy some endless breadsticks and salad. Travesty." - Daemon — Jennifer L. Armentrout

When I go to a library and I see the librarian at her desk reading, I'm afraid to interrupt her, even though she sits there specifically so that she may be interrupted, even though being interrupted for reasons like this by people like me is her very job. — Aaron Swartz

With the death of bin Laden, it's finally time for Congress to bring back the pre-9-11 legal norm, before we decided it was okay to toss out our civil liberties if the 'bad guys' were scary enough. — Aaron Swartz

The Open Access Movement has fought valiantly to ensure that scientists do not sign their copyrights away but instead ensure their work is published on the Internet, under terms that allow anyone to access it. — Aaron Swartz

I was around computers from birth; we had one of the first Macs, which came out shortly before I was born, and my dad ran a company that wrote computer operating systems. I don't think I have any particular technical skills; I just got a really large head start. — Aaron Swartz

Me and Katy look adorkable in extraterrestrial
highway shirts. You would just look stupid. You can thank me later. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

Do you ... feel anything around me?"
"Other than what I felt this morning when I saw how good you looked in those jeans?"
"Daemon." I sighed, trying to disregard the girl in my that screamed, HE NOTICED ME! "I'm being serious. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

As the Internet breaks down the last justifications for a professional class of politicians, it also builds up the tools for replacing them. — Aaron Swartz

Will you make me the luckiest bastard on Earth and marry me, Katy Swartz? — Jennifer L. Armentrout

Being around some of the bright lights of the technology world and having them expect great things helps you sit down and do it seriously. — Aaron Swartz

Computers will be able to do all the mundane tasks in our daily lives. — Aaron Swartz

She giggled, then popped a lollipop back in her mouth. "Okay, before you tell me no, I already cleared it with Ash."
I frowned. "Cleared what?"
"Ash is throwing a little New Year's Eve party at her house. It's just going to be a few of us. Daemon is going."
"Uh, I doubt Ash is okay with me going to her party."
"No, she is." Dee pinged around the living room like a captured butterfly. "She promised she'd be cool with it. I think you're growing on her."
"Like mold," I muttered. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

Think deeply about things. Don't just go along because that's the way things are or that's what your friends say. Consider the effects, consider the alternatives, but most importantly, just think. — Aaron Swartz

More books." His eyes went wide. "You have, like, then books you just said you haven't read."
"Doesn't mean I won't get more books." I smiled at is incredulous expression. "I haven't been able to read a lot lately, but I will, and then I won't be out of anything new to read. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

Nearly 75,000 Demand Progress members have urged Congress to fix the Patriot Act. — Aaron Swartz

I tried to push down my anger. One thing I hated more than Daemon's douche-nozzle side was him telling me what to do. "You don't own me, Daemon."
"It's not about ownership, you little nut."
"Nut?" I glared at him. "I wouldn't call me names when I have a knife in my hand. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

I love you Kat, Always Have. Always Will. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

Steadfastness is a noble quality, but unguided by knowledge or humility, it becomes rashness, or obstinacy. — Aaron Swartz

Most people, it seems, stretch the truth to make themselves seem more impressive. I, it seems, stretch the truth to make myself look worse. — Aaron Swartz

Normally, I just sit in my quiet little room and do the small things that bring me pleasures. I read my books, I answer email, I write a little bit. — Aaron Swartz

Life is short ... so why waste it doing something dumb? — Aaron Swartz

tell me to stop and i will — Jennifer L. Armentrout

God, I loved Daemon. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

Now everyone has a license to speak, it's a question of who gets heard. — Aaron Swartz

I'm from Iowa Falls, Iowa. My dad was a small-town lawyer, and my mom was a pharmacist. She worked at Swartz Drug. I have five older brothers. — Patrick Whitesell

We need to download scientific journals and upload them to file-sharing networks. — Aaron Swartz

Games, All Games are meant to be Fun and when it stops being Fun it stops being a Game. — Brian L. Swartz

But then again, they
were like baby Einsteins on crack. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

Even among those who I would not count as 'friends,' I have met many people online who have simply commented on my work or are interested by what I do. — Aaron Swartz

I'm not such a nuisance to the world, and the kick I get out of living can, I suppose, justify the impositions I make on it. But when life isn't so fun, well, then I start to wonder. What's the point of going on if it's just trouble for us both? My friends will miss me, I am told. — Aaron Swartz

We need to take information, wherever it is stored, make our copies and share them with the world. We need to take stuff that's out of copyright and add it to the archive. We need to buy secret databases and put them on the Web. We need to download scientific journals and upload them to file sharing networks ... With enough of us, around the world, we'll not just send a strong message opposing the privatization of knowledge - we'll make it a thing of the past. Will you join us? — Aaron Swartz

Surprise widened his eyes as he stepped back. "Caving in so easily?"
"Caving in?" I laughed without feeling. "I just want you out of my face."
Daemon chuckled deeply. "Keep telling yourself that, Kitten."
"Keep using your ego steroids. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

Now, as far as I know, nobody has ever put up the U.S.'s nuclear missiles on the Internet. I mean, it's not something I've heard about. — Aaron Swartz

Growing up, I slowly had this process of realizing that all the things around me that people had told me were just the natural way things were, the way things always would be, they weren't natural at all. They were things that could be changed, and they were things that, more importantly, were wrong and should change, and once I realized that, there was really no going back. — Aaron Swartz

Creativity comes from applying things you learn in other fields to the field you work in. — Aaron Swartz

Daemon was suddenly in front of me. I took an involuntary step back. "Do you think I didn't enjoy kissing you? That I haven't thought about it every second since then? And I know you have. Just admit it."
In the pit of my stomach, tight coils thrummed. "What is the point of this?"
"Have you?"
"Oh, for crap's sake, yes, I have. I do! Do you want me to write it down for you? Send you an e-mail or a text? Will that make you feel better?"
Daemon arched a brow. "You don't need to be sarcastic. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

But all of this action goes on in the dark, hidden underground. It's called stealing or piracy, as if sharing a wealth of knowledge were the moral equivalent of plundering a ship and murdering its crew. But sharing isn't immoral - it's a moral imperative. Only those blinded by greed would refuse to let a friend make a copy. — Aaron Swartz

"Something on a line, it's discord and rhyme - whatever, whatever, la la la - Mouth is alive, all running inside, and I'm hungry like the -" Warmth spread down my neck.
"It's actually,'I howl and I whine. I'm after you,' and not blah or whatever. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

I always felt I wouldn't be around long. I mean, we live, we die. circle of life. But I feel life now is wasted in front of the Television and computer that we all miss the view of it. I know I was put her for a purpose and I just need to find out what it is. — Sarah Swartz

It was perfect. She was perfect. And I was the luckiest guy. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

Information is power. But like all power, there are those who want to keep it for themselves. — Aaron Swartz

The library world is set up on this model where the library is a physical building and has a number of books and serves a geographical community. — Aaron Swartz

There is no justice in following unjust laws. — Aaron Swartz

Social Security got passed because John D. Rockefeller was sick of having to take money out of his profits to pay for his workers' pension funds. Why do that, when you can just let the government take money from the workers? — Aaron Swartz

We must erase bin Laden's ugly legacy, not extend it: by ending the Patriot Act's erosion of our civil liberties, we can protect the freedoms that make America worth fighting for. — Aaron Swartz

Say yes to everything. — Aaron Swartz

A mind sourced in Spirit is a river of immeasurable power and life-giving goodness. — James R. Swartz

Was I totally against the idea of having kids with Kat one day? Other than breaking out in hives at the thought of that, the idea wasn't too horrible. Of course, I wanted the white picket fence bullshit ... if it occurred a good ten years from now, and the kids didn't have weird bowl haircuts and couldn't Jedi mind-screw people. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

The other ones don't want to play with me."
There were more of him? Dear God ...
The doctor turned, smiling at the boy. "Is it because you're not sharing your toys?"
Kat choked on what sounded like a near-hysterical laugh.
Micah's eyes slid to the doctor. "Sharing is not how you assert dominance."
What. The. Holy. Hell. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

Luc sighed as he raised his hands. "Look, this is not a trap, a test, or a drill. Archer's here, too. He's waiting for us, actually, and I'm more than willing to explain everything to you, but I'm not doing it standing here. Not when I found a Lunchables just a few minutes before you guys showed up, and I'm ready to make myself a delicious buffet of ham and cheese on crackers.
I stared at him.
"What? It's the kind that has Oreo cookies included," he replied. "That shit is banging. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

I can help Katy," Blake wheezed. "Good enough for you?"
"What?" I demanded, dropping my hands.
"Yeah, see, you saying her name alone makes me want to kill you. So, no, not good enough for me. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

The world's entire scientific and cultural heritage, published over centuries in books and journals, is increasingly being digitized and locked up by a handful of private corporations. — Aaron Swartz

But like all power, there are those who want to keep it for themselves. The world's entire scientific and cultural heritage, published over centuries in books and journals, is increasingly being digitized and locked up by a handful of private corporations. Want to read the papers featuring the most famous results of the sciences? You'll need to send enormous amounts to publishers like Reed Elsevier. — Aaron Swartz

At the end of the day, we have an economy that works for the rich by cheating the poor, and unequal schools are the result of that, not the cause. — Aaron Swartz

I'll bet living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween. — Charles S. Swartz

Infuriated, I scrambled over him, even more furious when I saw the humored glint in his eyes. "God you tick me off."
"Well at least I got you
"
"Don't even finish that statement! — Jennifer L. Armentrout

Assume nobody else has any idea what they're doing, either. — Aaron Swartz

Daemon Black could be as prickly as a hedgehog having a really bad day, but underneath all that spindly armor, he was sweet, protective, and incredibly selfless. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

Most people's major life changes don't come from reading an article in the newspaper; they come from reading longer-form essays or thoughtful books, which are much more convincing and detailed. — Aaron Swartz

People shouldn't be forced to categorize themselves as "gay," "straight," or "bi." People are just people. Maybe you're mostly attracted to men. Maybe you're mostly attracted to women. Maybe you're attracted to everyone. These are historical claims - not future predictions. If we truly want to expand the scope of human freedom, we should encourage people to date who they want; not just provide more categorical boxes for them to slot themselves into. A man who has mostly dated men should be just as welcome to date women as a woman who's mostly dated men.
So that's why I'm not gay. I hook up with people. I enjoy it. Sometimes they're men, sometimes they're women. I don't see why it needs to be any more complicated than that. — Aaron Swartz

What is "this drive"? It's the tendency to not simply accept things as they are but to want to think about them, to understand them. To not be content to simply feel sad but to ask what sadness means. To not just get a bus pass but to think about the economic reasons getting a bus pass makes sense. I call this tendency the intellectual. — Aaron Swartz

Real education is about genuine understanding and the ability to figure things out on your own; not about making sure every 7th grader has memorized all the facts some bureaucrats have put in the 7th grade curriculum. — Aaron Swartz

Large corporations, of course, are blinded by greed. The laws under which they operate require it - their shareholders would revolt at anything less. — Aaron Swartz

Another Country, — Katharine Swartz

I'm game for anything with you, Daemon Black. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

I grinned at Daemon and held up a bulb that was so green it almost matched his eyes. I decided it was going to be his bulb. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

What is the most important thing you could be working on in the world right now? ... And if you're not working on that, why aren't you? — Aaron Swartz

Anyway, I think you guys need to talk or ... I don't know. Cave to your passions."
I busted out laughing. "Oh my God, are you serious?"
She grinned. — Jennifer L. Armentrout

Now, the typical way you make good things happen in Washington is you find a bunch of wealthy companies who agree with you. — Aaron Swartz

I don't want to be happy. I just want to change the world. — Aaron Swartz

Senator Wyden continues to be the Senate's truest champion of an open Internet. — Aaron Swartz

I think deeply about things and want others to do likewise. I work for ideas and learn from people. I don't like excluding people. I'm a perfectionist, but I won't let that get in the way of publication. Except for education and entertainment, I'm not going to waste my time on things that won't have an impact. I try to be friends with everyone, but I hate it when you don't take me seriously. I don't hold grudges, it's not productive, but I learn from my experience. I want to make the world a better place. — Aaron Swartz

With enough of us, around the world, we'll not just send a strong message opposing the privatization of knowledge - we'll make it a thing of the past. — Aaron Swartz

Reality is painful
it's so much easier to keep doing stuff you know you're good at or else to pick something so hard there's no point at which it's obvious you're failing
but it's impossible to get better without confronting it. — Aaron Swartz

When one wakes up in the morning, one's whole life is neatly laid out, consistent with the past, to the degree that we even (apparently) remember the same language spoken the day before, suggesting previous experience had simply entered a dormant state. — James R. Swartz

Books are totally useless unless you take their advice. If you just keep reading them, thinking "that's so insightful! that changes everything," but never actually doing anything different, then pretty quickly the feeling will wear off and you'll start searching for another book to fill the void. — Aaron Swartz

Without the ability to talk about government power, there's no way for citizens to make sure this power isn't being misused. — Aaron Swartz

I first met Jimbo Wales, the face of Wikipedia, when he came to speak at Stanford. — Aaron Swartz

In deep sleep, even though one does not exist as an externally or internally conscious ego, one can report a good nights sleep because a very subtle ego remnant remains, permitting the experience of limitless and bliss. — James R. Swartz

There's all sorts of stuff people want to publish anonymously. — Aaron Swartz

No, you can't force other people to change. You can, however, change just about everything else. And usually, that's enough. — Aaron Swartz

Be curious. Read widely. Try new things. What people call intelligence just boils down to curiosity. — Aaron Swartz