Steve Jobs
1955 – 2011
About Steve Jobs
, and one of the most consequential figures in the history of technology and design. Adopted at birth and raised in Silicon Valley, he co-founded Apple in a garage with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne in 1976. After being ousted from Apple in 1985, he founded NeXT and acquired Pixar Animation Studios, which produced Toy Story (1995).
He returned to Apple in 1997 and led the development of the iMac, iPod (2001), iTunes, iPhone (2007), and iPad (2010) — products that redefined the personal computer, music, communication, and tablet industries. He died of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor at 56. His Stanford commencement address (2005) is one of the most-watched speeches in history.
“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”
Quick Facts
- Born
- 1955
- Died
- 2011
- Lifespan
- 56 years
- Domain
- science
- Quotes
- 10 collected
- Key Themes
- DesignPassionCuriosityCourageExcellencePerseverance
Learn More
Wikipedia — Steve JobsSteve Jobs's Famous Quotes
10 quotes
“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”
— Widely documented — from interviews with BusinessWeek and other publications
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
— Stanford University Commencement Address, 12 June 2005
“Stay hungry, stay foolish.”
— Stanford University Commencement Address, 12 June 2005 — quoting the 1974 farewell edition of The Whole Earth Catalog
“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”
— Stanford University Commencement Address, 12 June 2005
“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.”
— Widely attributed to Jobs — consistent with documented statements and management philosophy
“I'm convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.”
— Interview, Smithsonian Institution Oral History Project, 1995
“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
— Widely attributed to Jobs — consistent with documented statements on leadership and product development
“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.”
— Stanford University Commencement Address, 12 June 2005
“Great things in business are never done by one person. They're done by a team of people.”
— Widely attributed to Jobs — consistent with documented statements on team and culture
“Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith.”
— Stanford University Commencement Address, 12 June 2005
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Frequently Asked Questions
Steve Jobs (1955–2011) was the co-founder, chairman, and chief executive of Apple Inc., and one of the most consequential figures in the history of technology and design. Adopted at birth and raised in Silicon Valley, he co-founded Apple in a garage with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne in 1976. After being ousted from Apple in 1985, he founded NeXT and acquired Pixar Animation Studios, which produced Toy Story (1995). He returned to Apple in 1997 and led the development of the iMac, iPod (2001), iTunes, iPhone (2007), and iPad (2010) — products that redefined the personal computer, music, communication, and tablet industries. He died of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor at 56. His Stanford commencement address (2005) is one of the most-watched speeches in history. Steve Jobs lived 1955 – 2011.