What does Elon Musk’s “Name of the Wind, A tinker’s debt” deleted tweet mean?

Elon Musk tweeted out this very cryptic tweet earlier today and then deleted it so I did some digging around on what it meant.

When Elon Musk tweets, everyone takes notice, especially the SEC but that’s another story. Earlier today (Oct. 14,2018) Musk tweeted out this very cryptic tweet referencing a line in a very popular book. Musk then deleted that tweet while I was writing this blog. Here’s the tweet below!

Name of the Wind
A tinker’s debt …

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 15, 2018

A quick search on Google reveals that this poem is referencing the book he mentions, “The Name of the wind” by Patrick Rothfuss, which is the first book in a series called “The Kingkiller Chronicle” which is followed next by “The Wise Man’s Fear.”

The exact line he references is the start of a poem that references a tinker,

A tinker’s debt is always paid:

Once for any simple trade.

Twice for freely-given aid.

Thrice for any insult made.

A tinker is a merchant that travels around, a roaming nomad who has a certain set of skills so to say. Today, he’d probably be a shade tree mechanic who works out of his car, going around cities offering his services on Craigslist be it car, home, or computer repair. He’s probably very knowledgeable and is able to live off his trade quite well. In most instances, this tinkerer carries around oddities not found anywhere else.

On the surface, it looks like Elon Musk is just reading a good book, enjoying himself. But read between the lines and I think this is just a karmic warning that he sees himself in.

Elon Musk IS the tinkerer, he’s given the world all sorts of new products ( new electric cars, cheap transportation to the ISS, a tunnel under Los Angeles.)

Referencing a Reddit thread that delves into this quote a little further and going line by line in that Tinker’s Debt poem. 

1. A Tinker’s debt is always paid- Tinker’s will pay you fairly.
2. Once for simple trade- If you swap items with a tinkerer, what you see is what you get in return.
3. Twice for freely given aid- If you assist a tinker, then you’ll get a favor back twice what you aided that tinker.
4. Thrice for any insult made- if you insult or hurt a tinker in any way, get prepared for retribution that likes of which you’ve never seen.

Is this a warning to the world how he’s been treated lately? Booted out of his position as chairman of the board?

Probably not. I think he’s just enjoying a good read.

Better swap up a copy now as they’re only $2.15 before shipping on Amazon.