The meaning of my signature

I usually sign my forum posts, some e-mails and other written stuff with the following phrase:

Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do!

I’ve read that it’s a quote from a “poem” written by one Jozef Imrich, which was used by Apple in some marketing campaigns some time ago, I’ve also read that it was written by Jack Kerouac, inspired by words from Jack Chapman. To be honest, I have no idea who wrote it. I just know I really like it (you can read the full poem at the end of this post).

Sometimes when people read that quote on my signature, they tell me I’m crazy. They say I’m a stupid idealistic guy with childish ideas and dreams of a perfect world. I’m not. I’m just a guy who uses his brain a bit more than the vast majority of people and having realized that this world could indeed be a better place (it isn’t for a lot of reasons but that’s not the topic I’m writing about), I do what I can to make things change for the better.

I’m writing this because I’d like to have a place I can point people to when they see my signature and tell me things like the ones I mentioned above, and not having to write a long explanation about it everytime.

So what does that signature mean? (or at least how I interpret it)

Well, it doesn’t mean that everyone should make a revolution to try to change the world into what they think is right. It means that if you believe in something, you should try to show it to other people and let them see why it is a good thing. That way, if it is indeed a good thing, other people will also see that it’s a good thing and eventually, when enough people have opened their eyes, the world will change itself.

It also doesn’t mean that if someone doesn’t agree with you, you should insist with that person and try to convince him/her (hence the “let” in bold above). If people are forced to believe in something, they will never truly believe it. You should only show them what you believe in, not force them into believing it too. If/when they’re ready, they will see it with their own eyes.

It’s as simple as that. Think about it for a while.

Oh, and here’s the whole “poem” (this is a poem?…)

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble makers.

The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules, And they have no respect for the status quo.

You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward.

And while some may see them as the crazy ones, We see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, Are the ones who do.

– Jozef Imrich