When I took office, only high energy physicists¹ had ever heard of what is called the Worldwide Web.... Now even my cat has its own page.

Bill Clinton (1946 - ), announcement of Next Generation Internet initiative, 1996

It shouldn't be too much of a surprise that the Internet has evolved into a force strong enough to reflect the greatest hopes and fears of those who use it. After all, it was designed to withstand nuclear war, not just the puny² huffs and puffs³ of politicians and religious fanatics⁴.

Denise Caruso, (digital commerce columnist⁵, New York Times)

The Internet is like alcohol in some sense. It accentuates⁶ what you would do anyway. If you want to be a loner, you can be more alone. If you want to connect, it makes it easier to connect.

Esther Dyson, Interview in Time Magazine, October 2005

My favorite thing about the Internet is that you get to go into the private world of real creeps without having to smell them.

Penn Jillette (1955 - ), in a Compuserve chat

On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog.

Peter Steiner, cartoon in The New Yorker, July 5, 1993

We've heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.

Robert Wilensky, speech at a 1996 conference

If you ever start to feel too good about yourself, they have this thing called the Internet, and you can find a lot of people there who don't like you.

Tina Fey, Golden Globes Acceptance Speech, 2009

The 'Net is a waste of time, and that's exactly what's right about it.

William Gibson (1948 - )