More from Tim Cook

We lose the freedom to be human.

TC

Tim Cook

Stanford University Commencement, 2019

7:15

Video starts at 7:15 — the moment this quote was spoken

The Story Behind This Quote

Cook makes his case for digital privacy as a fundamental right. He warns that if we accept as normal that everything in our lives can be aggregated, sold, or leaked, we lose far more than data. He paints a chilling picture: in a world without digital privacy, even if you've done nothing wrong other than think differently, you begin to censor yourself — "not entirely at first, just a little, bit by bit. To risk less, to hope less, to imagine less, to dare less, to create less, to try less, to talk less, to think less." Ironically, that environment would have stopped Silicon Valley before it even started.

Collect Your Favorite Quotes

Save quotes that inspire you. Build your personal collection of wisdom in Minditly — available on both platforms.