Philosophy

Science is a learning experience. We are interacting with nature, collecting evidence, and sometimes nature is more imaginative than we are. We ought to be humble when collective evidence, and not assume we know the answer in advance. Many of the realities we create are designed to flatter our ego... We prefer to attach ourselves to virtual realities that flatter us, and that's driven by ego.

Harvard astrophysicist who studies interstellar objects and extraterrestrial life

People work for technical ability and wish for happiness. That's a mistake. You need to treat your happiness the way you treat all your skills - you need to work for your happiness - not just wish for it.

Social Scientist & Author on Happiness, Meaning, and Conservative Values

You must free yourself from the fear of losing something such that you can enjoy that something. If you're afraid of a relationship ending, you'll never be able to enjoy the relationship.

Social Scientist & Author on Happiness, Meaning, and Conservative Values

Our lives have a first and second curve. The first is your me curve - fluid intelligence that peaks around 40. The second is your we curve - your wisdom, teaching, and ability to bring out the best in others. It requires you to serve others.

Social Scientist & Author on Happiness, Meaning, and Conservative Values

The world is lying to you. It tells you that in 10,000 hours you can become excellent at what you do and that your strength will never wane. That is a complete, utter, falsehood. At some point, the greatness that came to define who 'you' are will wane.

Social Scientist & Author on Happiness, Meaning, and Conservative Values

We are under an existential threat now as humankind. Even a simple two-cell yeast has a survival instinct and evolves fast enough to try and survive. I don't understand why humans who are supposed to be these very complex creatures can see that we're heading towards a very, very dangerous future which could be irreversible, and why we're not doing absolutely everything possible now.

Before I felt leadership was something you earned. Mount Everest, I think changed my opinion quite dramatically. When I came back from that expedition, I realised that all leadership really is, is empowering people to find their purpose, because the only way people are fully engaged and productive and happy is when they are working towards a higher purpose.

Biology doesn't need to be obeyed, but it always needs to be considered. If we discuss gender differences, we cannot act as if biology doesn't exist. We live at a time where a group of people – for ideological reasons – have made it clear that they think we can shove biology aside, that everything is culturally constructed, and we can act like biology doesn't exist. That's not going to work, that's not how the world works.

Primatologist & behavioral psychologist who studies animal cognition and emotions

Happiness is family. I loved growing up in Sinjar surrounded by my mother and siblings. Those memories are my happy place.

Nobel Peace Prize Winner & Yazidi Genocide Survivor Advocate

I always tried to run my business in a humane way. I had this idea of business being tough and harsh, and thought I could build a business that was humane and kind. Performance metrics and KPIs are relatively straightforward to follow, but doing the 'right thing' is not nearly so clear cut.

Pioneering Software Engineer & Founder of Freelance Programmers Ltd

For me, success is about harmony, and it has several dimensions. The classic three; intellectual, physical, and spiritual – when those three are in harmony, I feel my life is a success. Money isn't really a part of that. Many people use money as a measure of success, not as their umbrella for a rainy day.

Pioneering Software Engineer & Founder of Freelance Programmers Ltd

I've noticed that wealthy people don't build resilience often because they think they're protected by their money. To a certain extent, this is true. As the money goes however, there's no strength… there's no kernel behind the money that allows them to see through the problems of life. Your happiness comes from inside.

Pioneering Software Engineer & Founder of Freelance Programmers Ltd

There's a concept in psychology called naïve realism. We think we see the world perfectly and assume that everyone sees it the way we do. If they don't? if they disagree? Our assumption is that they are wrong, and that they are misinformed. It's a natural inclination we all have which stops us putting ourselves in the other's shoes.

Harvard Business Review contributor & workplace dynamics expert

I study history and genealogy – I buy old maps from the 1500s and 1600s, and one thing that's absolutely clear to me is that legacy lasts 50 years maximum. Thinking about legacy in timeframes beyond that is meaningless.

Co-Founder of Netflix & Former Redbox CEO

Tai Chi is the physical manifestation of the Taoist philosophy. It represents the union of yin and yang. It allows one to embrace the seeming contradictions in the world, and in business. How do you become a profitable business while also doing good for society? How do you embrace ambiguity while also using scientific thinking?

We have the power of knowledge- for example to save the whales. The whales are obviously not going to save us. We need to have solidarity among humans, that the big problems we are facing, that affect all of humanity and we all equally have the responsibility to do something about it.

Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, early Bitcoin and cryptocurrency advocate