Elon Musk: Never Forget—Entropy Is Not on Your Side

Elon Musk: Always bear in mind that entropy is not on your side.

“People sometimes think technology just automatically gets better every year, but it actually doesn't. It only gets better if smart people work like crazy to make it better. That's how any technology actually gets better.

By itself, technology will actually decline if people don't work on it.

You can look at the history of many civilizations. In Ancient Egypt, they were able to build these incredible pyramids, and then they basically forgot how to build pyramids; they even forgot how to read hieroglyphics.

Or you look at Rome. They were able to build these incredible roadways and aqueducts and indoor plumbing, and they forgot how to do all of those things.

There are many such examples in history. So, I think you should always bear in mind that entropy is not on your side.”

Y Combinator, September 15, 2016