“To me it was a great revelation to find creativity in the midst of something that was not thought of as being creative.”

— Ed Catmull

Co-Founder of Pixar & Pioneer in Computer Graphics

The quote archive

Wisdom in fragments

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

Without what Becker called 'cultural world views' we would be overwhelmed by existential terror. Beliefs about reality that we share foster psychological equanimity by giving us a sense of meaning and value.

— Sheldon Solomon

Terror Management Theory researcher & social psychologist

We're breathing, defecating pieces of meat that are no more significant or enduring than lizards or potatoes.

— Sheldon Solomon

Terror Management Theory researcher & social psychologist

People were sure that they were risking death when building mutual aid webs or asking for dignity on the streets of our great cities around the world. People are choosing humanity, dignity, freedom and equality as ideals even when they perceive a risk of dying.

— Ece Temelkuran

Turkish journalist, author, and political commentator known for critical writings on democracy

Power requires oppression. In order to be powerful, you have to stand upon something. Strength comes from within. Strength is replacing power. People are sick of power, especially the young.

— Ece Temelkuran

Turkish journalist, author, and political commentator known for critical writings on democracy

Our system has never defined what it means to be 'good' – what is the ideal human being in capitalism? Is it Jeff Bezos? Is it Steve Jobs? They thrived, they profited, are they 'moral'? Even though they exploit the labour of millions of people?

— Ece Temelkuran

Turkish journalist, author, and political commentator known for critical writings on democracy

The will to live together is the fundamental pillar that keeps society going- and that pillar is now under threat. What will we do when we lose the will to live together? That's one of the fundamental questions of our time.

— Ece Temelkuran

Turkish journalist, author, and political commentator known for critical writings on democracy

I had to remain in war mode. I had to continue confronting my captors, not accept what was happening to me. The relationship I had with my captors was based on suspicion.

— Ingrid Betancourt

Former Colombian Presidential Candidate & Hostage Rescue Survivor

I have always thought that if you are abducted for a week, 2 weeks, even a month- you don't know what abduction is. It's only after a certain time that you understand the weight of abduction.

— Ingrid Betancourt

Former Colombian Presidential Candidate & Hostage Rescue Survivor

My mindset changed from thinking that tomorrow I may be freed, to realising that unless I did something myself, nobody would come and rescue me.

— Ingrid Betancourt

Former Colombian Presidential Candidate & Hostage Rescue Survivor

At some point, corruption destroys the trust in a society so much that it has an impact on unity, and the social fabric of a country or nation. It affects wellbeing. It affects the capacity of a nation to be happy.

— Ingrid Betancourt

Former Colombian Presidential Candidate & Hostage Rescue Survivor

Corruption is a collective mindset, anchored around a cultural mindset that shifts to become tolerant to corruption, and increased levels of corruption. When we talk about corruption it's easy to think of it as governments, but for corruption to work- and to be effective- it has to contaminate all the bodies of society.

— Ingrid Betancourt

Former Colombian Presidential Candidate & Hostage Rescue Survivor

In the future people will spend the majority of their time online, with their online identity and digital assets. The majority of their interactions with friends, family, relatives and colleagues will be online.

— Justin Sun