31 top IT quotes, from inspiring to insightful to hilarious

For those of us who work in the IT industry, sometimes we need a little break from critical thinking to spend a moment soaking up levity and insight in the ever-changing technology industry. Today, the Atera team is here to provide exactly that!

We’ve put together a selection of over thirty of our favorite IT-related quotes. Some will have you deep in thought while others will have you doubling over with laughter. Maybe you will even find one that you want to pin to the wall next to your desk! Some are the words of famous tech personalities that you will surely recognize. Others are from… well… the lost corners of the internet. 

So what are you waiting for? Take a peek at some of the best IT quotes out there — and make sure to share your favorites with your coworkers. There’s nothing like a great IT quote to boost the mood in your workplace, no matter what tech challenge you’re currently stuck on. Now, let’s get to it.

The best IT quotes on the internet

In these 31 quotes, you are sure to find your daily dose of IT humor — plus some philosophical IT-themed quandaries you might not have thought of before. Take a look at our list of the best IT quotes. 

Inspirational IT quotes

We’ll get started with some quotes from well-known figures in the IT and tech industry whose words are sure to inspire you.

#1: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” — Arthur C. Clarke

Author Arthur Clarke, of Profiles of the Future, shares a common perspective about technology. But as IT professionals, we get to see the mechanics that back up these “magic” tricks!

#2: “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” — Alan Kay

Alan Kay is a well-known computer scientist and winner of the A.M. Turing Award in 2003. His quote reminds us not just of the innovative power of the IT industry itself, but how it can change the future of the planet. That’s serious stuff! 

#3: “Stay hungry, stay foolish.” — Steve Jobs

Simple yet so Steve Jobs-like. At Atera, we love this quote from the famous founder of Apple because it highlights the importance of a drive to succeed. Even an idea that might seem totally crazy and out of bounds (artificial intelligence, anyone?) might just lead to incredible breakthroughs.

#4: “Growth and comfort do not coexist.” — Ginni Rommetty

Growing pains are a fact of IT life! Ginni Rommetty, former CEO of IBM (from 2012 to 2020) makes an important statement about the discomfort that sometimes accompanies innovation in her compelling quote. 

#5: “Technology is best when it brings people together.” — Matt Mullenweg

Social media entrepreneur Matt Mullenweg gets right to the heart of the power of technology. As IT professionals, we can make a commitment to creating community and togetherness right in our own departments. 

#6: “The technology you use impresses no one. The experience you create with it is everything.” — Sean Gerety

Sean Gerety is a leader in the user experience (UX) space, and his quote reminds us that function and form go hand in hand. At Atera, we’re big fans of amazing UX and UI.

#7: “The advance of technology is based on making it fit in so that you don’t really even notice it, so it’s part of everyday life.” — Bill Gates

Bill Gates is certainly someone who has impacted every detail of our everyday lives. The co-founder of Microsoft makes a great point in this inspirational quote — technology has become so infused in our lives that we barely even notice it anymore. And that’s the goal!

#8: “If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat.” — Sheryl Sandberg

Sheryl Sandberg is the CEO of Lean In, a company focused on helping women achieve their ambitions and supporting companies to build inclusive workspaces. We love the rocket ship analogy (in case you hadn’t noticed, it’s kind of a theme here at Atera), which cleverly highlights the importance of being up for a challenge and embracing the unknown in tech innovation.

#9: “You can focus on things that are barriers or you can focus on scaling the wall or redefining the problem.” — Tim Cook

The current CEO of Apple reminds us of the importance of critical thinking and problem-solving in IT. After all, there is no shortage of problems or challenges for IT professionals on any given day!

#10: “Don’t be afraid to change the model.” — Reed Hastings
Similarly, the co-founder and CEO of Netflix reminds us how crucial it is to constantly track analytics and gain insight into what is working… and what’s not. Fear is the final frontier in the quest for innovation.

Funny IT quotes

Ok, so we’re moving on from “inspiring” to “irreverent” in this next section. Laughter is the best medicine, so let’s see if we can take a step back and find the “funny” in some of the IT and tech-related situations we find ourselves in.

#11: “Never trust a computer you can’t throw out a window.” — Steven Wozniak

#12: “Never let a computer know you’re in a hurry.” — author unknown

#13: “Hardware: The parts of a computer system that can be kicked.” — Jeff Pesis

#14: “Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road.” — Stewart Brand

#15: “If it keeps up, man will atrophy all his limbs but the push-button finger.” — Frank Lloyd Wright

#16: “Technology is ruled by two types of people: those who manage what they do not understand, and those who understand what they do not manage.” — Make Trout

#17: “Technology is like a fish. The longer it stays on the shelf, the less desirable it becomes.” — Andrew Heller

#18: “I just invent. Then I wait until man comes around to needing what I’ve invented.” — R. Buckminster Fuller

#19: “Computers have lots of memory but no imagination.” — author unknown

#20: “People who smile while they are alone used to be called insane until we invented smartphones and social media.” — Mokokoma Mokhonoana

#21: “I won’t be impressed with technology until I can download food.” — author unknown
#22: “Life was much easier when Apple and Blackberry were just fruits.” — author unknown

Find an IT community to share your favorite IT quotes

If you enjoyed this list of awesome IT quotes, don’t hesitate to share them with your coworkers and friends in the IT space. As IT professionals, we excel at creating community through technology. One example? Atera’s virtual community of users, who share tips, suggestions, support, and some laughs too! 
Want some more IT humor to brighten up your day? Check out these IT puns or revisit some of our favorite memes from cult-favorite TV Show IT Crowd on the Atera blog.