Wisdom in fragments

The power of population is so superior to the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man, that premature death must in some shape or other visit the human race.

Humankind has become a force in the biosphere as powerful as many natural forces of change, stronger than some, and sometimes as mindless as any.

Chief Scientific Adviser to UK Government & Food Security Expert

We compensate for our failure to exercise actual control over events by creating a generalized, subjective sense of control by undertaking acts the effect of which on the environment is illusory.

Co-Founder of Skype & Estonian Entrepreneur & Technologist

The physical and mental aspects of our lives are inseparable and taking care of the basic physical requirements is essential. Athletes and leaders rarely experience deep relaxation and this can become transformative in their lives.

As humans we need to evolve constantly because the behaviours that got us to a certain level won't suffice to even maintain this level let alone to take us to the next.

The greatest performances arise from people who feel inspired. Athletes and leaders alike need to create lives that inspire them. We constantly strive to feel inspired and we feel the need to contribute fully.

We often project our 'superhero' aspirations onto our leaders and vulnerability, and other more human traits, are not always encouraged. Organisational leaders often experience loneliness, and the 'truth' within their company is often illusive to them because subordinates will often tell them what they want to hear.

I have learnt that situations in themselves are not inherently stressful. Our perception of situations is what creates stress for us. Some players thrive in the biggest sporting occasions and others struggle to cope.

There's only so much our world will become richer by surrounding ourselves with clones of ourselves!

My best ideas, and most successful opportunities have come- usually- from the most unexpected areas.

I've met many entrepreneurs who feel it's almost cheating themselves to have time-off, relax, or indulge things which are not directly profit-generating- but then the overwhelming majority of those I meet who have really made it are also the ones who do actively make time to feed their interests, have periods of mental space, and allow their brains to work creatively.

The more dots you give your brain, the more of them it will connect!

If you want to be a great entrepreneur, you need to broaden your intellectual horizons.

Sometimes, rappers' lyrics really do offer gripping tales of loss, sorrow, exploitation, rage, confinement, hopelessness, and despair about conditions that are denied in the larger society.

Hip-hop scholar and cultural critic; author of "Black Noise

Society at large only sporadically pays attention to the extraordinarily despair-producing conditions in which young black poor youth attempt to survive.

Hip-hop scholar and cultural critic; author of "Black Noise

Hip-hop gives a ground-level view of what it might mean to live under what are nearly warlike conditions in communities that face a myriad of daunting circumstances.

Hip-hop scholar and cultural critic; author of "Black Noise