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About this quote

What does it mean?
Torvalds satirizes rigid ego and the tendency to label dissenters as wrong until convenient.
In plain terms
People often call others crazy until they change their own minds.
What can you take from it?
Recognize when your standards shift to fit your ego.

Where it applies

  • debates
  • conflict resolution
  • leadership

Putting it to work

  • question your certainty
  • respect differing views
  • track decision changes

Questions to consider

  • When have you changed your view on others?
  • Is flexibility always good?

Another view

Some flexibility is healthy; not all shifts are hypocritical.

More from Linus Torvalds

  1. I'd like to say that I knew this would happen, that it's all part of the plan for world domination.

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  2. It was _such_ a relief to program in user mode for a change. Not having to care about the small stuff is wonderful.

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  3. 2.6.<odd>: still a stable kernel, but accept bigger changes leading up to it (timeframe: a month or two). 2.<odd>.x: aim for big changes that may destabilize t…

    Permalink to quote #35

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