Steve Jobs: the inventor's inspirational quotes

Late Apple co-founder on life, death & more...

Steve Jobs is a man who will always be remembered for his sheer energy, drive and passion for innovation. From the creation of Apple's first Macintosh, to the company's latest launch, iCloud (the last launch Jobs appeared at before his death), he infused his life with creativity and meaning and was always looking forward to be the next big thing.

To mark the legendary Apple co-founder's death, we've taken a look at his key quotes on life, death, technology and more...

Picture credit: Rex Features and Getty Images

1. On wealth

"Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful, that's what matters to me."

The Wall Street Journal, 1993

2. On independent thinking

"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice."

Stanford commencement speech, 2005

3. On creativity

"Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while."

Wired, 1996

4. On innovation

"[Innovation] is ad hoc meetings of six people called by someone who thinks he has figured out the coolest new thing ever and who wants to know what other people think of his idea."

Business Week, 2004

5. On the Macintosh

"We think the Mac will sell zillions, but we didn't build the Mac for anybody else. We built it for ourselves. We were the group of people who were going to judge whether it was great or not."

Playboy, 1985

6. On design

"To design something really well, you have to get it. You have to really grok what it's all about. It takes a passionate commitment to really thoroughly understand something, chew it up, not just quickly swallow it. Most people don't take the time to do that."

Wired, 1994

7. On technology

"The most compelling reason for most people to buy a computer for the home will be to link it to a nationwide communications network. We’re just in the beginning stages of what will be a truly remarkable breakthrough for most people - as remarkable as the telephone."

Playboy, 1985

8. On finding a career path

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it."

Stanford commencement speech, 2005

9. On optimism

"I'm an optimist in the sense that I believe humans are noble and honorable, and some of them are really smart. I have a very optimistic view of individuals. As individuals, people are inherently good."

Wired, 1996

10. On death

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important."

Stanford commencement speech, 2005

Tags: quotes, technology