Wisdom in fragments

It's been constantly shocking how resilient and expansive Hip Hop is.

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

The difference between rap, jazz, blues, rock & roll, pop, r&b and all that is that the hip-hop artists held on to it…. MTV didn't play any people of colour until hip-hop came along. They had Michael Jackson then they had Run D.M.C. Run D.M.C's 'Rock Box' and these records were honest and real reflections of what came from these people's communities- from a poetry and music standpoint.

Founder of Def Jam Records & Hip-Hop Pioneer

When they went to work, it wasn't that they were selling out but rather the intention of human beings to chase things… material stuff… come out of the ghetto… achieve… they wanted their own reflection in pop culture… they didn't want any of this YMCA, Patrick Juvet's – I Love America or any of these disco records that were out…. they didn't want to listen to that on black radio, it was insulting…. so they made their own.

Founder of Def Jam Records & Hip-Hop Pioneer

Honesty! It has a greater share of integrity than most pop phenomenon- and consistently. They coined an expression early, that people had this attitude of '…keeping it real…'. People always said they do art, but they don't do art for money… what was real was that they wanted to get ahead- so their poetry reflected what was in their hearts.

Founder of Def Jam Records & Hip-Hop Pioneer

All the great achievements of humankind – from building the pyramids to reaching the Moon – are based on large scale cooperation. And all large scale human cooperation is based on belief in fictions such as gods, nations, money and human rights.

Bestselling author of "Sapiens" & historian studying human civilization

You can never convince a chimpanzee to give you a banana by promising him that after he dies, he will go to chimpanzee Heaven, and there receive countless bananas for his good deeds. No chimpanzee will ever believe that. Only humans believe such stories. This is why we rule the world, whereas the chimpanzees are locked up in zoos and research laboratories.

Bestselling author of "Sapiens" & historian studying human civilization

Humans began to create and believe things that exist only in their own imagination. Things such as gods, nations, money and human rights. This enabled humans to start cooperating on an unprecedented scale.

Bestselling author of "Sapiens" & historian studying human civilization

Until about 70,000 years ago, humans were just another kind of animal. They weren't particularly important. Their impact on the world was not greater than that of jellyfish, fireflies, or woodpeckers. However, 70,000 years ago humans evolved new cognitive abilities that turned them into the most powerful force on the planet.

Bestselling author of "Sapiens" & historian studying human civilization

I'm fortunate that I can make a change that in a very positive way affects a better way of life for many humans as well as all living creatures and our planet while I'm alive and that will live on

Co-Founder of Paul Mitchell Systems & The Patrón Spirits Company

the most important thing is to commit your resources, whether it's money or time, to a cause that you're passionate about, whether that is a local school, supporting an environmental project, or helping poor kids in Africa

Former Microsoft executive and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation president

charity and philanthropy are the same. Charity giving is more aligned with money and not so much individual time. Philanthropy is more of a practice and way of being

Co-Founder of Paul Mitchell Systems & The Patrón Spirits Company

I feel it is the duty for every human and company to do something to either make their community, their city, their state, their country or the world a better place to live. You don't have to contribute financially, but rather your time, smile and good wishes to start the ball rolling. Time is a very valuable thing, when you contribute your time to others- you've contributed something of great value

Co-Founder of Paul Mitchell Systems & The Patrón Spirits Company

Boys we just donated to the Salvation Army. They help people that do not have homes or food. Always remember in life there will always be someone that will be in more in need. We could only afford a dime that year, but we gave to help out others!

Co-Founder of Paul Mitchell Systems & The Patrón Spirits Company

One of the challenges in networking is everybody thinks it's making cold calls to strangers. Actually, it's the people who already have strong trust relationships with you, who know you're dedicated, smart, a team player, who can help you.

Co-Founder of LinkedIn & Venture Capitalist

There is a line between the observable and greater universe. For discussion it's very useful to recognise that when we speak about anything outside the observable universe, we're switching from the empirical to the speculative and theoretical

Astrophysicist who discovered the accelerating expansion of the universe

One can certainly live their life happily, here on earth never looking up or contemplating what's out there… but for many people (myself included) when you become aware of how much is out there? You feel this compelling pull of curiosity to understand.

Astrophysicist who discovered the accelerating expansion of the universe