Altman was struck by that quote and would repeat it to others. The author was saying that to survive the risks of merging with computers, people needed to adopt a mindset that balanced caution and bravery. You were more likely to survive a future threat by being careful and cool-headed, rationally assessing dangers, instead of reacting emotionally and succumbing to panic. The people who thrived in the future would take a detached and informed approach to tech advancements.
