“We follow the codes not because they bring gain, but because we loathe the people we would otherwise become.”

Source: Erewhon (1872), Ch. 25

Source: 1890s, The Principles of Psychology (1890), Ch. 25

Torvalds, Linus, 2015-06-23, &lt;nowiki&gt;Linus Torvalds on the LKM mailing list&lt;/nowiki&gt;, 2015-02-07 https://lkml.org/lkml/2015/6/23/657, <br class="br">2010s, 2015

A Tramp Abroad (1880)

Comparing the pros and cons of the advancing technology, as quoted in Chet Cooper interview with Laura Dern, Chet Cooper, Ability Magazine (February/March 2015) https://abilitymagazine.com/laura-dern.html

Variant: We fear things because we value them. We fear losing people because we love them. We fear dying because we value being alive. Don’t wish you didn’t fear anything. All that would mean is that you didn’t feel anything.
Source: Lord of Shadows

1990s, A Distinctly American Internationalism (November 1999)
Context: Some have tried to pose a choice between American ideals and American interests — between who we are and how we act. But the choice is false. America, by decision and destiny, promotes political freedom — and gains the most when democracy advances. America believes in free markets and free trade — and benefits most when markets are opened. America is a peaceful power — and gains the greatest dividend from democratic stability. Precisely because we have no territorial objectives, our gains are not measured in the losses of others. They are counted in the conflicts we avert, the prosperity we share and the peace we extend.

1940s, 1940, Laureate Cross acceptance speech (July 1940)

Quoted in [Is Linux For Losers?, Forbes, http://www.forbes.com/intelligentinfrastructure/2005/06/16/linux-bsd-unix-cz_dl_0616theo.html, Lyons, Daniel, 2005-06-16, 2007-01-10]