Stay Hungry Stay Foolish.

The phrase “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” has an intriguing and deep history, which ties together personal inspiration, cultural movements, and a vision of the future.

It originated from the final issue of The Whole Earth Catalog, published in 1974. This catalog, created by Stewart Brand and his team, was a collection of tools, resources, and advice for people interested in sustainability, personal growth, and alternative lifestyles. The catalog’s mission was to offer practical advice for a new generation of thinkers, creatives, and adventurers.

The cover of the last issue featured a photograph of a rural road at dawn, symbolizing a path of possibility and new beginnings. Beneath the image, the words “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” were printed, serving as a farewell message from the catalog’s team. These words weren’t just a sign-off; they encapsulated the spirit of curiosity, the willingness to take risks, and the idea of always seeking more, never settling for comfort.

Steve Jobs, when he gave his famous commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005, referred to this quote from The Whole Earth Catalog. He explained how it inspired him during his youth, linking it to his own experiences of exploration, adventure, and innovation. The quote perfectly reflected Jobs’s own approach to life: a relentless hunger for knowledge and a willingness to make foolish mistakes in the pursuit of greatness.

Jobs admired Stewart Brand’s work so much that he later sought out Brand’s autograph, revealing how deeply this phrase resonated with him. Jobs said in his speech, “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish” was something he wished for himself, and it was his message to the graduating class as they embarked on their own journeys.

The origins of this phrase reflect a unique time in history when the world was beginning to see itself from a new perspective — through the lens of space exploration. Stewart Brand had, in fact, initiated a campaign in the 1960s to get NASA to release photographs of Earth from space. The phrase “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish” connects this idea of a young hitchhiker, hungry for adventure and foolishly brave in their pursuit of freedom, with the broader perspective of humanity and our place in the world.

When you understand the backstory, the quote becomes much more than a simple slogan. It represents the spirit of a generation—eager to explore, learn, and make mistakes while charting their own path. It speaks to the mindset of pioneers like Steve Jobs, who transformed the world by constantly challenging the status quo and pursuing their dreams, no matter how foolish they may have seemed at the time.

“Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.”

这句名言有着深刻且有趣的历史，它融合了个人灵感、文化运动和对未来的愿景。

这句话最初出现在《Whole Earth Catalog》（《全地球目录》）的最后一期，这本书由斯图尔特·布兰德（Stewart Brand）及其团队于1974年发布。《全地球目录》是一本集合了工具、资源和建议的书，旨在为有兴趣探索可持续性、个人成长和另类生活方式的年轻人提供帮助。这本书的使命是为一代新的思想家、创意者和冒险者提供实践性的建议。

该期目录的封面上，印有一张清晨乡村道路的照片，象征着可能性和新开始的道路。在照片下面，写着“Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.”这句话，作为该团队的告别信息。对于布兰德及其团队来说，这句话不仅仅是一个告别，它概括了对探索的渴望、冒险的勇气和永远寻求更多的精神。

在2005年，史蒂夫·乔布斯（Steve Jobs）在斯坦福大学的毕业典礼上提到了这句话，他解释了这句名言如何在他年轻时给了他很大的启发，并将其与自己的探索、冒险和创新经历联系起来。他认为这句话完美地体现了他自己的人生观：对知识的饥渴追求，以及为了伟大的目标，愿意做出“愚蠢”的尝试。

乔布斯非常崇拜斯图尔特·布兰德的作品，以至于他后来亲自找布兰德签名，这也揭示了这句话对他意义之深。乔布斯在演讲中说，“Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish”是他对自己人生的期望，他也希望将这一信息传递给即将毕业的学生，鼓励他们在踏上人生新旅程时保持这份激情和冒险精神。

这句话的来源还与人类对世界的认知变化密切相关。布兰德在1960年代发起了一个运动，要求NASA发布从太空拍摄的地球照片。正是在这个背景下，“Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish”变得更加有意义。这句话通过描绘一位年轻的搭车者，渴望冒险、勇于追求自由的形象，象征了一个全新视角——从太空看地球的宏大视野。

了解这段历史后，你会发现这句名言不仅仅是一个口号，它代表了一代人的精神——渴望探索、学习、冒险并犯错，走自己的路。这句名言也呼应了像乔布斯这样的先驱精神，他们通过不断挑战现状、追寻自己的梦想，不论看起来多么“愚蠢”，最终改变了世界。