The wife of former Apple visionary Steve Jobs unveiled an archive of his emails and inspirational quotes at Vox Media’s Code 2022 Conference.
Key Details
- In an email from September 2, 2010, Jobs discusses the things in the world that he relies on but did not create: “I do not make any of my own clothing…. I did not discover the mathematics I use…. I did not invent the transistor, the microprocessor… or most of the technology I work with. I love and admire my species, living and dead, and am totally dependent on them for my life and well-being.”
- “One of the ways that … people express their appreciation to the rest of humanity is to make something wonderful and put it out there,” he says in a 2007 internal meeting.
- “We are constantly taking. The ability to put something back into that pool of human experience is extremely neat,” Jobs says to an International Design Conference in Aspen in 1983.
- “All it takes is a little more time—not that much more—and a willingness to do so; a willingness to persevere until it’s really great,” Jobs says in a 1984 interview.
Why it’s important
Steve Jobs was one of the most popular figures in computer development and was the face of Apple at the height of its innovation and development prior to his death in 2011. He is still seen today as an inspirational figure and is often emulated by his followers in Silicon Valley.
“Right now, the site is simple. At the top, there’s a poetic email Jobs sent to himself about his admiration for humanity. Scrolling down reveals some notable quotes from Jobs, including some from his famous 2005 commencement address at Stanford. At the end, there’s a short About Us description for the archive. Video and audio clips of Jobs are laced in along the way,” says The Verge.
The archive is available at stevejobsarchive.com.
Notable quote
“With respect for the past and excitement for the future, the Steve Jobs Archive offers people the tools and opportunities to make their own contribution. We are building programs, fellowships, collections, and partnerships that reflect Steve’s values and carry his sense of possibility forward,” the website organizers share.
