“Seneca elucidates how a tree needs exposure to wind stressors to grow strong and establish deep roots. Without such stressors, it becomes brittle and can break off easily. I argue that a crucial aspect of excelling at the game of life is to expose oneself to stressors that, hopefully, won't be fatal. As the saying goes, 'what does not kill you makes you stronger.'”
— Gad Saad
Evolutionary Psychologist & Author Known for Consumer Behavior Research

The quote archive

Wisdom in fragments

A growing archive of 3,000+ moments, drawn from every interview.

Resumes are not the way to find people. It's a connection and an instinct you have to listen to. I don't micro-manage, I give them enough rope to hang themselves.

— Donna Karan

Renowned Fashion Designer & Founder of DKNY Brand

A brand has to be authentic and be born of a personal passion. If you, its creator, doesn't want the product, no one else will. If you want it, chances are it will be wanted around the world. Desires are universal and speak in every language.

— Donna Karan

Renowned Fashion Designer & Founder of DKNY Brand

To me, success is balancing your personal life and your work life. It's also being content and satisfied with what you accomplished so you can let it go and move forward.

— Donna Karan

Renowned Fashion Designer & Founder of DKNY Brand

I wasn't thinking about success or being 'big' or creating a huge business. I was thinking about answering a need, a void, creating something that wasn't there before.

— Donna Karan

Renowned Fashion Designer & Founder of DKNY Brand

I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach for talent, you have to approach every individual and opportunity from a bespoke perspective.

— Troy Carter

Music executive and manager, founder of Meadows and Q&A platform

Stay undefined and stay curious. Our world is changing so rapidly that the only way to survive, thrive and adjust is to have a deep and constant level of curiosity.

— Troy Carter

Music executive and manager, founder of Meadows and Q&A platform

Entrepreneurship is a way of life. For me, entrepreneurship has always been about being a builder. Whether it's about undiscovered artists or working with companies pre-launch, the build process is what attracts me.

— Troy Carter

Music executive and manager, founder of Meadows and Q&A platform

When you're identifying talent in music or other industries- one of the most important things to identify is which of those individuals is able to marry talent with extraordinary drive.

— Troy Carter

Music executive and manager, founder of Meadows and Q&A platform

I'm always searching for that black-swan, what is that project, or who is that artist that feels specials, and feels counter-culture. Who is that artist that feels interesting and has a bold, unapologetic point of view? That's what pulls me in- and you know what, if you find that and put the right strategy around it? You can disrupt culture.

— Troy Carter

Music executive and manager, founder of Meadows and Q&A platform

To follow your dreams and imagine the unimaginable. Everything man-made that we see and touch on a daily basis has been invented by someone, by an entrepreneur. Life is exciting and you can create your own destiny, just as long as you believe in yourself and step outside of the box.

— Laurence Graff

Founder and Chairman of Graff Diamonds, luxury jeweler and gemstone merchant

Diamonds are a miracle of nature, they are millions of years old, they survived a hazardous journey to the earth's surface and the discovery of them is an exciting moment. To see the rough diamond and then watch it come to life on the polisher's wheel with incredible fire and scintillation is incredibly inspiring.

— Laurence Graff

Founder and Chairman of Graff Diamonds, luxury jeweler and gemstone merchant

I haven't remained still since I started in business, I am always moving forward, always looking ahead. I have always said 'the sky is the limit' and have lived by that motto every day.

— Laurence Graff

Founder and Chairman of Graff Diamonds, luxury jeweler and gemstone merchant

A great entrepreneur always acts with full intention and without limitation, always striving for the best in everything they do. From an early age I knew I had to rely on myself, look after myself, to not be afraid of anything. It gave me huge confidence and unshakable belief.

— Laurence Graff

Founder and Chairman of Graff Diamonds, luxury jeweler and gemstone merchant

Entrepreneurship is a way of thinking, a way of acting, that enables you to realise your dreams. It allows ideas to thrive and become reality and success to be born from hard work, good intention, taking risks and believing in something that others may deem to be impossible.

— Laurence Graff

Founder and Chairman of Graff Diamonds, luxury jeweler and gemstone merchant

The only way you can experience the cosmic is by enhancing your perception. If your doors of perception are enhanced, everything becomes cosmic.

— Sadhguru

Yoga Guru & Founder of Isha Foundation

We are all born creative, but most of us learn to become uncreative. Education systems often suppress the natural creativity we're born with rather than nurturing it.

— Ken Robinson

Educational reformer & TED speaker on creativity in schools