I found this quotation on the dedication page of The Future of Text, Vol. V by Frode Alexander Hegland, with Dene Grigar, which I haven’t read yet. Not knowing who he was, I promptly looked him up and found myself on his website. According to his six year‐old daughter:

“My daddys name is tom. he tells me storys. he likse beer coffee and rum. he has bron hair and blue eyes. he has a nose that looks funny. he is 36 years old. he is great! he has big ears. he works in the Economist. he ritse books. he isent very good at gardening. he dose smelly farts. I love him.”
—Ella (2006)

As it turns out, he is the Deputy Editor of The Economist and editor of its future‐gazing annual, The World Ahead—and plays the drums. It also appears that he has more than a few funny bones.

Well, today Mr. Standage, I’m glorifying your alleged morsel of practical wisdom. Whether some young and eager intern was asking how he works on a technical level or a more abstract statement of ​“just do the work,” the quotation works elegantly in both cases so I’m keeping it!