“I’m sorry, it’s true. Having children really changes your view on these things. We’re born, we live for a brief instant, and we die. It’s been happening for a long time. Technology is not changing it much – if at all.”
- February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011
- American
- Entrepreneur, businessman, industrial designer
- He brought to the world revolutionary products that combined technology and design at a high level, such as the personal computer Macintosh, iPhone, and iPad, and also revolutionized the music industry with the iPod, iTunes, and iTunes Store.
Quote
“I’m sorry, it’s true. Having children really changes your view on these things. We’re born, we live for a brief instant, and we die. It’s been happening for a long time. Technology is not changing it much – if at all.”
Explanation
In this quote, Steve Jobs reflects on the fundamental nature of life and how having children shifted his perspective on the transient nature of existence. He emphasizes that, despite technological advancements, the basic cycle of birth, life, and death remains unchanged. Jobs’ words suggest that while technology has profoundly impacted our lives in many ways, it has not altered the inevitable aspects of the human experience. The briefness of life, and the inevitability of death, are constants that technology cannot change, no matter how advanced it becomes.
Jobs’ insight reveals his recognition of the limits of technology in addressing deeper philosophical and existential questions. Despite being a pioneer of technological innovation, Jobs understood that technology could improve lives in many ways, but it couldn’t alter the fundamental truths of human existence. His reflection on the passage of time and the role of family and parenthood in shaping one’s perspective suggests a more humbling view of life, where technology is acknowledged but not seen as a solution to life’s ultimate questions.
Today, this quote serves as a reminder that no matter how much technology evolves, it will never be able to change the most fundamental aspects of our human experience. It encourages us to focus on what truly matters—our relationships, values, and the legacy we leave behind—while recognizing that technology, despite its tremendous power, cannot alter the fundamental truths of life.
