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2014's best, worst and most notable quotes

Plenty of high-profile people suffered from foot-in-mouth disease this year. Here, CNET catalogs some of the silly, smart and interesting things said in the world of tech in 2014.

Stephen Shankland Former Principal Writer
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
Expertise Processors, semiconductors, web browsers, quantum computing, supercomputers, AI, 3D printing, drones, computer science, physics, programming, materials science, USB, UWB, Android, digital photography, science. Credentials
  • Shankland covered the tech industry for more than 25 years and was a science writer for five years before that. He has deep expertise in microprocessors, digital photography, computer hardware and software, internet standards, web technology, and more.
Stephen Shankland

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick Stephen Shankland/CNET

Today's online culture makes it easy for business leaders or famed technologists to get publicity. Unfortunately, though, even smart people sometimes say dumb things.

Given how often high-profile executives are expected to make public comments with speeches, press conferences and social media, blunders are inevitable. And it's harder to escape notice with social media providing a 24-hour supply of critics ready to pounce immediately and preserve the missteps for posterity.

In 2014, there were plenty of examples -- and yes, Uber seemed to be trying to stuff the ballot box with its executives' privacy missteps. As CNET reflects back on 2014, though, we're not just focusing on the negative here. Forthwith are some of the best, worst and most provocative quotes from the year.

The best and worst quotes of 2014 (pictures)

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