'I do not...,' Read Steve Jobs' last email he sent to himself before his death

Steve Jobs

On September 2, 2010, Steve Jobs sent himself an email titled “I do not…” — a quiet meditation on gratitude that has now been shared publicly by the Steve Jobs Archive. Written from his iPad, the note reveals Jobs’ deep appreciation for the interconnectedness of human life, acknowledging how much of his existence depended on the work and creativity of others.

“I grow little of the food I eat… I speak a language I did not invent or refine… I am moved by music I did not create myself,” Jobs wrote, reflecting on how no one truly builds alone. He ended the email with a line that feels both humble and profoundly human: “I love and admire my species, living and dead, and am totally dependent on them for my life and well being.”

The message stands in sharp contrast to the myth of Jobs as an isolated, self-made genius — instead revealing a man who saw himself as part of a vast, collaborative human story.

Published by the Steve Jobs Archive, the note offers an unexpectedly tender reminder of the visionary’s capacity for introspection and gratitude. More than a tech legacy, it’s a window into a mind that recognised that even innovation — perhaps especially innovation — is built on the shared efforts of humanity.

Here's Jobs' email to himself in full:

From: Steve Jobs, sjobs@apple.com To: Steve Jobs, sjobs@apple.com Date: Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 11:08PM

I grow little of the food I eat, and of the little I do grow I did not breed or perfect the seeds. I do not make any of my own clothing. I speak a language I did not invent or refine. I did not discover the mathematics I use. I am protected by freedoms and laws I did not conceive of or legislate, and do not enforce or adjudicate. I am moved by music I did not create myself. When I needed medical attention, I was helpless to help myself survive. I did not invent the transistor, the microprocessor, object oriented programming, or most of the technology I work with.I love and admire my species, living and dead, and am totally dependent on them for my life and well being.

Sent from my iPad