Twitter reacts with emotion to Steve Jobs' death

The second news outlets started reporting on the death of Steve Jobs today, Twitter erupted with a fast-moving stream of emotional reactions--and "RIP Steve Jobs," #ThankYouSteve, and #iSad became trending topics within hours. Here is just a sampling of tweets from tech industry figures, journalists, athletes, comedians, and others who took to the Twittersphere to share their thoughts on Jobs and his legacy.

"I feel honored to have known Steve Jobs. He was the most innovative entrepreneur of our generation. His legacy will live on for the ages."
--Steve Case, co-founder of AOL

"I was driving on the freeway in Cupertino when I heard the news. Shocking. So much emotion is swirling about."
--Robert Scoble, author and tech blogger

"Steve Jobs was the greatest leader our industry has ever known. We are all blessed by his life. My thoughts and prayers are with his family."
--Marc Benioff, chairman & CEO, Salesforce

"Genius 1.0"
--Scott Simon, host of NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday

"RIP Steve Jobs. Closest thing we had to Tony Stark."
--Patton Oswalt, comedian

"iRIP, Steve Jobs. Thank you for making incredible things, so we can live in the future."
--Wil Wheaton, actor and writer

"I'm on my way to PHL to see my son, who uses a device Steve Jobs invented to help him talk. He will never know. He will never know."
--Tim Carmody, Wired writer

"Our parents had JFK, we had Steve Jobs. Edison gave us electricity, Jobs gave us the Jetsons in real life. We lost an icon today. Mourn him."
--Kevin Smith, director

"RIP Steve Jobs. Thanks, Steve, for making the world more science fictional."
--i09, blog covering future tech

"Everything good I have done, I have done on a Mac."
--John Hodgman, actor, humorist, and personification of the PC in Apple's "Get a Mac" advertising campaign

"Once in a rare while, somebody comes along who doesn't just raise the bar, they create an entirely new standard of measurement."
--Dick Costolo, Twitter CEO

"For those of us lucky enough to get to work with Steve, it's been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely."
--Bill Gates, co-founder and former CEO of Microsoft

"My condolences to Steve Jobs' family and friends. We've lost a unique tech pioneer and auteur who knew how to make amazingly great products."
--Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder

"Incredibly saddened to learn of the loss of Steve Jobs, a true innovator and a great man."
--Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

"Me to boys: Did you hear about Steve Jobs? Yes. What do you think about that? It's sad because he has four kids. Kids always bring it home."
--Danny Sullivan, editor of SearchEngineLand.com

"Pixar alone would have been a dazzling legacy."
--Harry McCracken, Technologizer founder and CNET contributor

"The world lost some of its magic today..."
--Twitter user @TechZader

"Devastated 2 hear about the passing of Steve Jobs. Was blessed 2 have the opportunity to spend time w/ him on several occasions. May he RIP."
--Lance Armstrong, champion cyclist

"May the uncompromising vision of Steve Jobs live on, inspiring others, making them reach further, do better."
--Tim O'Reilly, founder and CEO, O'Reilly Media

"My thoughts go out to Steve Jobs' family and friends. Thank you for changing our world."
--Arianna Huffington, co-founder of The Huffington Post

"My dad brought home a squat, beige Mac in '84. I played Dark Castle and wrote stories on it. It changed everything. Thanks, Mr. Jobs."
--Colin Meloy, lead singer of The Decemberists

"R.I.P Steve Jobs. Someone who definitely left his mark on this world! Innovations that will live and last forever!!"
--NBA star Lebron James

"Remember Steve Jobs this way, in his own words: 'Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.'"
--Dan Gillmor, digital-media entrepreneur and author

"Steve Jobs was the man."
--Tony Hawk, retired pro skateboarder and actor

CNET's Jason Parker contributed to this report.

Related stories
• Apple co-founder, Chairman Steve Jobs dies
• How Steve Jobs reshaped the tech industry
• Remembering Steve Jobs: Be a part of the discussion
• Steve Jobs at Apple: A photo retrospective
• Video: Jobs, a life in technology