To Infinity and Beyond! Technology Quotes, Sayings, and Slang

On the grand scheme of things, technology happened overnight. Since the dawn of the publicly-used internet in the early '90s, its evolution has been unstoppable.

If you're 30 or over, you remember the beginning of the internet. When the phone rang and interrupted your shoddy dial-up connection. Floppy discs. Burnt CDs.

Things that wowed us back then aren't even on the radar of youth today. Technology has become an integral part of existence, so much so, that most of us can't even begin to do our daily work without it.

Now, things like artificial intelligence and virtual reality are the pinnacle of technology. Give it another decade and who knows what will be possible.

It's predicted that by next year, 85% of customer interactions will be handled by automation. It's a whole new world. Ad there are slang terms and technology quotes galore to explain the phenomenon.

Is there a common theme? Let's just say ... people have mixed feelings. Keep reading for famous tech quotes, slang terms and obscure phrases only Silicon Valley would understand.

Technology Quotes, In Favor Of
Whether you're for or against it, technology is inevitable. And chances are, even if you're against some aspects of it, you still use and depend on it in a significant way.

Often compared to magic, the allure of technology has captured the hearts and minds of millions. Here are some famous love quotes about technology, and our interpretation of them.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is equivalent to magic." - Arthur C. Clarke
Author of 2001: A Space Odessy, Arthur C. Clarke was bang on the money with his quote comparing technology to magic.

Think about it. Even just two short decades ago, the thought of a self-driving car was something out of a science fiction book. And now, they're a reality.

“Technology is the campfire around which we tell our stories.” - Laurie Anderson

Avant-garde artist Laurie Anderson made this apt observation, creating a beautiful metaphor comparing technology to a campfire. In many ways it's true; technology has opened up a portal to connection otherwise unimagined.

"Technology like art is a soaring exercise of the human imagination.” - Daniel Bell

As sociologist and author Daniel Bell put it, technology can be likened to art. And nowadays, it's truer than ever. The creativity and innovation that drives technology is certainly a form of art.

Tech Quotes, Opposed
There's no escaping technology these days. But like most things in life, it doesn't come without a warning label. There have been many people, both past and present, who have expressed fears and worries about technology.

“Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards.” - Aldous Huxley

Author Aldous Huxley's quote about technology might be considered in some circles as a prophecy of sorts. He died in 1963, far before technology was anywhere near what it is today.

“It seems to me, Golan, that the advance of civilization is nothing but an exercise in the limiting of privacy.” - Isaac Asimov

This famous quote from Isaac Asimov's science fiction novel Foundation's Edge is another seemingly prophetic one. With all the privacy breaches happening these days, it's never been more important to be diligent about our online security.

“At the end of a miserable day, instead of grieving my virtual nothing, I can always look at my loaded wastepaper basket and tell myself that if I failed, at least I took a few trees down with me.” - David Sedaris

We think what author and comedian David Sedaris means here, is that there's a sort of comfort in the hard copy that is not found in the virtual world. Even failure, if it's tangible, is easier to grieve and move on from.

Proceed with Caution
Regardless of your position on technology, the fact is, it's not going anywhere. And there are many famous quotes that seem to accept technology, but with a layer of caution and skepticism.

“Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.” – Christian Lous Lange

Norweigan historian Christian Lous Lange speaks to us from the grave with this quote, as he passed away in 1938. If he was here today, he'd likely be shocked at technology's evolution, but we don't think he'd change his stance.

Especially now, in the age of artificial intelligence and machine learning, his are wise words to live by.

“Technology should improve your life … not become your life.” - Billy Cox

Along the same lines, we think Jimi Hendrix' bassist Billy Cox hit the nail on the head with this one. Technology can and should improve our lives, make our work more efficient, but it should not control us.

“The Internet is like alcohol in some sense. It accentuates what you would do anyway. If you want to be a loner, you can be more alone. If you want to connect, it makes it easier to connect.” - Esther Dyson

Journalist and author Esther Dyson gives us a lot to think about here. And she's not wrong. Technology is exactly what we make of it. It gives us the tools to do what we would do anyway; it just makes it easier.

Other Noteworthy Quotes About Technology
For, against, or somewhere in between, there are countless inspirational, motivational and humorous quotes about technology.

From authors, scientists, philosophers, actors — you name it. Here are a few more technology-related quotes that we love.

“We are stuck with technology when what we really want is just stuff that works.” - Douglas Adams

Author of The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Douglas Adams wanted what we all want — stuff that works. Is there anything more frustrating than technology that is designed to make life easier, making it harder?

"Let’s go invent tomorrow instead of worrying about what happened yesterday.” – Steve Jobs

We can't really put together an article about technology quotes without mentioning the late, great innovator Steve Jobs. There's a philosophical air to this quote of his. It's about making the most of the moment instead of worrying about the past.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." - Albert Einstein

While many of Einstein's theories have been disproven, his thoughts on technology weren't amiss. If we can benefit from technology while holding on to our humanity, it's a win/win.

One of the big questions people ask is, is technology a commodity or a value? Learn more about our thoughts on that.

Wrapping Up
"With great power comes great responsibility." This famous Spider-Man quote pretty much sums up all technology quotes, doesn't it?

Want to delve more into internet lingo? Check out our online dictionary to stay savvy on the latest, greatest tech quotes and slang.