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 KaranRenowned Fashion Designer & Founder of DKNY Brand
“art has always played a role in revolution, evolution and change. Art has always been a great changing force, the great common denominator, and a force to help people understand the world we live in, and the people within that world.”— Tariq Trotter
Member of hip-hop group The Roots; drummer and co-founder
The quote archive
Wisdom in fragments
A growing archive of 3,000+ moments, drawn from every interview.
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 CarterMusic 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 CarterMusic 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 CarterMusic 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 CarterMusic 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 CarterMusic 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 GraffFounder 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 GraffFounder 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 GraffFounder 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 GraffFounder 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 GraffFounder 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.
— SadhguruYoga 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 RobinsonEducational reformer & TED speaker on creativity in schools
Performance is a mental construction. You have to be present in your own body and mind, and when you achieve that presence, you can transcend physical and mental limitations.
— Marina AbramovićPerformance artist known for pushing boundaries of endurance and audience interaction
The wilderness doesn't care about your university degree, your bank balance, or your social media following. It only responds to your character, your resilience, and your ability to adapt.
— Bear GryllsSurvival TV Host & Adventurer Known for "Man vs. Wild
I think the fundamental thing about art is that it's a place where you can be honest about the human condition without having to be practical about it.
— Antony GormleyBritish sculptor known for large-scale iron body cast installations