Sourced

• A good example is more irritating than a bad one.
  • From a presentation in Munich, Jan 1991, in response to an audience question on why his competitors complained about his business practices.

• If you own the facts, you may distort them as you like.
  • To anti-virus researcher Pame Kane at the 1992 Computer Virus Conference in response to Kane’s assertion that McAfee’s virus scanner did not work.

• Ignorance and confidence are constant companions
  • “Into the Heart of Truth” 2001

• Disobedience is the vehicle of progress.
  • Explaining why he did not follow the normal rules of business to reporter Josh Quittner in 1992

• History is sympathetic to its authors.
  • “Into the Heart of Truth” 2001

• If the majority holds some thing of value, you can be certain it has none.
  • Anti-virus presentation, Sydney Australia, 1991, on the general trend away from virus scanning as a valid method of virus control.

• Opinions need a willing ear.
  • “Beyond the Siddhis” 2002

• If you have the winning cards, why cheat?
  • Good Morning America, June 1991 when asked if he manipulated the results of his product’s virus detection percentage.

• Hope is paltry food for living.
  • “Into the Heart of Truth” 2001

Unsourced

• I prefer people with simple vices and harmless virtues.
  • Attributed to McAfee on Homebase BBS 1990. Homebase was McAfee’s private BBS

• Righteous motives will lead to a stupid act.
  • Homebase BBS

• The world was here first, it doesn’t owe you a thing.
  • Homebase BBS

• Great lies are often true.
  • Homebase BBS

• We admire ourselves in proportion to our disdain of others.
  • Homebase BBS

• There’s no time for a person’s real life.
  • Homebase BBS

• Imagination weakens the eyes
  • Homebase BBS

• Trivialities have become our necessities
  • Homebase BBS

• Fear is a certain shield against temptation.
  • Homebase BBS

• An intelligent man who doesn’t think has no advantage over a fool.
  • Homebase BBS

• Pure and simple truths are uncommon.
  • Homebase BBS.

• It’s easy to give advice if you don’t have to pay the consequences.
  • Homebase BBS.

• If you think money is valueless, ask someone for a loan.
  • Homebase BBS

• Self deception is a hypnotic pleasure.
  • Homebase BBS.

• He looks too old to know everything.
  • Homebase BBS