“The problem with market research is that people don't think what they feel, don't say what they think, and don't do what they say.”

— Rory Sutherland

Vice Chairman of Ogilvy & advertising strategist and behavioral economist

The quote archive

Philosophy

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

If you don't place any emphasis on the development of character, or any belief that character is a reality; If you don't believe in the utility of courage and truth as the means of making your way through life; then you're left with – well – celebrity.

— Jordan Peterson

Clinical Psychologist, Author of "12 Rules for Life," Public Intellectual

War teaches you that there are many different types of people, good and bad, and you have to understand that good and evil co-exist, and it's up to you to calculate your way through the world, understanding where people are rooted.

— Jocko Willink

Former Navy SEAL Commander & Leadership Author

If you want to see where human nature is most revealed, you have to look at human beings in their most stressful and painful scenarios. It is in those situations that you can learn how people behave and how you can behave.

— Jocko Willink

Former Navy SEAL Commander & Leadership Author

Humans have this incredible ability; we understand the world around us, we can dream, we can share visions of the future and persuade each other- and ourselves- to improve. This is so deep in our biology.

— Chris Anderson

Curator of TED Talks & Author of "The Long Tail

We cannot think about technology in confrontational terms. There is no race against the machines, there is no fight, no war. We have to end this long, historical confrontational narrative.

— Garry Kasparov

World Chess Champion & Political Activist Against Russian Authoritarianism

History is not linear, like the chapters of a book… History moves through seasons, and so winters are inevitable.

— Garry Kasparov

World Chess Champion & Political Activist Against Russian Authoritarianism

You shouldn't think of yourself as the person you are now – you are constantly changing – this is often called a growth mindset. When you think about human nature, you think of it as malleable, as something constantly growing and in-flux rather than something fixed.

— Angela Duckworth

Psychologist & Author of "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

The human mind can shape itself – the human mind can take itself as an object and change – no other living creature on the planet can do that, and it gives me tremendous optimism.

— Angela Duckworth

Psychologist & Author of "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

Western civilisation has veered off course; we have de-sacralised the world in which we live. We are collectively insane, and we need to mount our own intervention.

— Marianne Williamson

Author of "A Return to Love" & Spiritual Activist

Every acorn is already programmed to become an oak tree, every embryo is programmed to become a baby, and every bud is programmed to become a blossom. Human beings are programmed as well, but we have something an acorn does not; free will. Every moment we live- we either allow the natural intelligence of life to unfold through us- or not. That natural intelligence is love.

— Marianne Williamson

Author of "A Return to Love" & Spiritual Activist

You become immune to the evils of criticism and flattery and enjoy a fundamental self-esteem and not a desire for self-image. This is dependent on others and can be taken away any time you are not validated.

— Deepak Chopra