I never have used computers or calculators. I've always been able

In the bold and confident words of Jon Huntsman, Sr., we hear the voice of a man who trusted not in machines, but in the discipline and instinct of the human mind: “I never have used computers or calculators. I’ve always been able to figure out in my head, far before my opposition has, in negotiating for acquisitions, where we need to be and where the numbers are and how we could get the best sight of the bargain, without having to resort to accountants or assistants or financial experts.” These words are not merely a boast of intellect; they are a declaration of faith in intuition, mental clarity, and the power of the human spirit to navigate the complexities of life without surrendering its wisdom to devices. Huntsman speaks as one forged in an era when a sharp mind was the true engine of success, when calculation was not outsourced to silicon, but to the fire of one’s own thought.

From the time of the ancients, the wisest among men prized the mastery of the mind above all tools. The philosophers of Greece taught that discipline in thought was the foundation of greatness; the generals of Rome learned to measure victory not by numbers alone, but by understanding, instinct, and courage. In Huntsman’s reflection, we see the continuation of that tradition. His rejection of computers and calculators is not rejection of progress—it is a reverence for the innate capacity of human intelligence, sharpened by years of discipline, experience, and intuition. For in the world of commerce, where men are blinded by data and driven by algorithms, Huntsman stood as one who could see beyond the numbers—to the heart of the deal, to the pulse of opportunity itself.

The origin of this quote lies in the life of a man who built one of America’s great business empires from humble beginnings. Born into modest means, Jon Huntsman, Sr. rose to become one of the leading industrialists and philanthropists of his generation, founding the Huntsman Corporation and pioneering innovations in materials science. Yet despite the magnitude of his enterprise, he remained guided by simplicity and clarity. His mind was his compass. He understood that the most powerful instrument in business is not the computer on the desk, but the confidence and vision within. This faith in mental agility—this refusal to let machines think for him—became his mark of leadership.

Consider the story of Archimedes, the ancient Greek mathematician who, without the aid of a single machine, deduced the principle of buoyancy while bathing, and later engineered weapons to defend his city from siege. His tools were not iron or gears, but intellect and imagination. So too did Huntsman use his mind as an instrument of precision. In the battlefield of business negotiations, he wielded memory, logic, and intuition like weapons, cutting through the fog of uncertainty that confounded others. He proved that true mastery lies not in the use of instruments, but in the training of the intellect. The tools may change, but the mind endures—and it is the mind, not the machine, that conquers.

Huntsman’s words also carry a quiet warning for the modern age. In our time, men and women lean ever more upon devices to think for them. Calculators replace arithmetic; spreadsheets replace reasoning; algorithms replace judgment. Yet as Huntsman reminds us, technology cannot replace understanding. To rely blindly on machines is to grow dull, to lose the sharpness that defines human potential. The computer can process data, but it cannot foresee; it can calculate, but it cannot feel the rhythm of negotiation, nor sense the truth hidden in the unspoken word. Huntsman’s wisdom calls us to reclaim that which is uniquely ours: the ability to reason swiftly, intuit deeply, and decide boldly.

The heart of his philosophy is self-reliance—the belief that the human mind, honed through discipline and courage, is sufficient to face the challenges of the world. This is not arrogance, but faith: faith in the gifts that life bestows upon every thinking being. It is the same faith that guided explorers across oceans, scholars through the mysteries of the cosmos, and leaders through times of uncertainty. Huntsman reminds us that, even amidst the complexity of the modern world, simplicity of thought remains the highest form of intelligence.

Let this be the lesson, then: do not allow your mind to atrophy in the shadow of machines. Use them when necessary, but never let them think in your place. Train your intellect as a warrior trains his blade—through constant use, through challenges faced and overcome. When the moment of decision comes, it is not the device, but the mind that must act. As Jon Huntsman, Sr. teaches, true mastery lies in clarity, not complexity; in intuition, not automation. To think is to lead, to calculate is to survive—but to understand, that is to triumph.

So, O seeker of wisdom, keep your mind sharp, your instincts alive, and your confidence rooted in your own thought. The world will offer you a thousand tools, but your greatest instrument remains within. Trust it, train it, and let it guide you, for in the end, as Huntsman’s life reveals, it is the mind—not the machine—that shapes destiny.