Linus at his absolute best in the mailing lists...

 
> > Other than the fact Linux has a cool name, could someone explain why I
> > should use Linux over BSD?
>
> No. That's it. The cool name, that is. We worked very hard on
> creating a name that would appeal to the majority of people, and it
> certainly paid off: thousands of people are using linux just to be able
> to say "OS/2? Hah. I've got Linux. What a cool name". 386BSD made the
> mistake of putting a lot of numbers and weird abbreviations into the
> name, and is scaring away a lot of people just because it sounds too
> technical.

Linus Torvalds' follow-up to a question about Linux
[thanks to Karel Kubat, The Netherlands]

I forgot to mention an important fact in the 1.3.67 announcement. In order to get a fully working kernel, you have to follow the steps below:

1. Walk around your computer widdershins 3 times, chanting "Linus is overworked, and he makes lousy patches, but we love him anyway".
2. Get your spouse to do this too for extra effect. Children are optional.
3. Apply the patch included in this mail - Call your system "Super-67", and don't forget to unapply the patch before you later applying the official 1.3.68 patch.
4. Reboot.

Linus Torvalds, announcing an early kernel patch
[thanks to Karel Kubat, The Netherlands]

Excusing bad programming is a shooting offence, no matter _what_ the circumstances.

Linus Torvalds, to the linux-kernel list
[thanks to azzit]

Best ever characterizations of Linux?

Linux: The OS people choose without $200,000,000 of persuasion.

Mike Coleman

Vini, vidi, Linux!

[Source unknown]

"Some people have told me they don't think a fat penguin really embodies the grace of Linux, which just tells me they have never seen a angry penguin charging at them in excess of 100mph. They'd be a lot more careful about what they say if they had."

Linus Torvalds

Most prescient statement about Linux

 "The “World Domination” thing is obviously always a bit tongue-in-cheek, but I think that yes, a five-year timeframe for the free software movement and Linux to make a major noticeable impact is not at all unrealistic."

Linus Torvalds on the potential of Linux [Back in 1998]

Bruce Perens on Linux

 Well, let's just say, 'if your VCR is still blinking 12:00, you don't want Linux'.

Bruce Perens
[thanks to George Bonser - courtesy of S. Krause]

Miscellaneous Quips

"The box said that I needed to have Windows 98 or better... so I installed Linux."

Anonymous
[quoted on LinuxNewbie.org - thanks to fozbaca.org]

"Linux. Where do you want to go tomorrow?"

Anonymous
[Seen many times, in lots of .sigs]

• Craig Bruce's Top Linux Quotes
• Bruce Perens on SCO's "Tapestry of Lies"