Ray Tomlinson Quotes

Powerful Ray Tomlinson for Daily Growth

About Ray Tomlinson

Ray Tomlinson (1941-2016), an American computer programmer and inventor, is best known as the creator of email as we know it today. Born on February 23, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York, he showed early promise in technology, earning a degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1963. Tomlinson's professional journey began at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory where he was involved in several projects related to communication systems and computer networking. It was during his work on the laboratory's experimental computer system, ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), that he conceived the idea of email. In October 1971, Tomlinson sent the first email by using the '@' symbol to link a user to a specific host - a crucial innovation in the development of electronic communication. His work on ARPANET laid the foundation for the internet as we know it today. Tomlinson left MIT in 1978 and joined Bolt, Beranek and Newman (BBN) where he continued to work on computer networking. He also co-founded and served as President of Raytom Corporation, a company focusing on software and telecommunication solutions. Throughout his career, Tomlinson was honored with numerous awards for his pioneering contributions to computing and communication technology. His influence extends far beyond the world of technology, having revolutionized the way we communicate in the digital age. Despite his passing on March 6, 2016, Ray Tomlinson's legacy continues to shape our connected world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I chose lower case letter 'r' for the first address symbol since it seemed to be in a natural position, centrally located for easy viewing."

Ray Tomlinson, the inventor of email as we know it, purposefully selected the lowercase letter 'r' as the first symbol for email addresses due to its central and easily visible location within the alphabet, making it intuitive and user-friendly.


"I can't say I saw it coming that ARPANET would still be around when I retired."

Ray Tomlinski's quote reflects his surprise at the longevity and ongoing relevance of ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), which he is credited for inventing email in 1971. Despite not predicting its continued existence when he retired, ARPANET has indeed persisted and evolved into the complex, interconnected network system we know today as the internet, demonstrating the enduring impact of his invention.


"The basic concept of sending mail from one computer to another was not new; it had been discussed for many years by various people and organizations."

Ray Tomlinson's quote highlights the idea that while the concept of electronic mail (email) being sent from one computer to another was groundbreaking, the idea itself was not entirely novel. It had long been a subject of discussion among individuals and organizations, demonstrating the gradual evolution of technology towards what would eventually become a widespread communication tool in the digital age.


"The most important single component of a computer system is the keyboard."

Ray Tomlinson's quote underscores the crucial role that the keyboard plays in the interaction between humans and computers. As the primary means through which we input data, commands, and ideas, the keyboard enables us to control and communicate with our digital devices effectively. It is a critical interface, making the computer system an extension of our thoughts, creativity, and problem-solving capabilities. The quote highlights the importance of ergonomic design, user-friendly interfaces, and efficient input methods for enhancing the overall user experience in the digital realm.


"Email can reach further, faster, deeper than any other medium in the world today."

Ray Tomlinton's quote signifies the immense power and reach that email communication has in today's digital world. It implies that emails can traverse vast distances (geographically) more swiftly than any other form of communication, penetrating deeply into various sectors, cultures, and communities across the globe, making it a vital tool for global interaction and collaboration.


I think when I first realized that something interesting had happened was probably in 1994. There was a 25th anniversary of the ARPANET celebration and... somebody asked the question, 'Where did email come from?' I remembered that I had done this little program back in 1971. People looked back and nobody could find anything that predated it.

- Ray Tomlinson

Back, I Think, Had, Asked

I see email being used, by and large, exactly the way I envisioned. In particular, it's not strictly a work tool or strictly a personal thing. Everybody uses it in different ways, but they use it in a way they find works for them.

- Ray Tomlinson

Everybody, Use, Works, Exactly The Way

I still like complete sentences that are grammatically correct without spelling errors. I don't always achieve this, and it is irksome to read a message I have sent and discover errors. I know I often leave out words in e-mail, not by choice, but because of the way my brain works.

- Ray Tomlinson

Works, Correct, Sentences, Errors

I am amused when somebody tries to illustrate the first email using a modern keyboard and a finger reaching for the '2' key. Wrong key! The @ was on the 'P' key.

- Ray Tomlinson

Finger, Keyboard, Tries, Key

I have always used e-mail to the greatest extent possible.

- Ray Tomlinson

Always, Used, Extent, E-Mail

The story I get the biggest kick out of is when my name and e-mail appeared on 'Jeopardy' a couple of years ago. My mother was a faithful viewer, and she said she was happy that they finally had an answer she knew the question to.

- Ray Tomlinson

Happy, Couple, Viewer, E-Mail

If you're looking for ways of getting quick communication, maybe texting is the way to go. People can't walk these days without having one hand balancing a smart phone. If that's the way people are going to live, it is the case that something that vibrates in their hand is going to get their attention more quickly than an email.

- Ray Tomlinson

Maybe, Quick, Quickly, Email

I suspect many people have the problem that they type much more slowly than they think. Consequently, they keep resynchronizing their thought processes with what they have typed so far, and they match a later part of the thought with an earlier part that they have typed.

- Ray Tomlinson

Thought, Think, Processes, Suspect

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.