Society

Our world today is not only superficial, but also very cynical, almost to the point of nihilism. There's a cynicism that masquerades as intelligence, but which- in reality- is a form of despair, a kind of excuse for not having to do anything.

Author & Stoicism Expert; Marketer & Media Strategist

The first thing we can notice is how much trouble we could cause if we act like we don't matter and cease to take care of ourselves, and the people around us.

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

Money can't solve many of the problems that truly plague people. It can't solve the problems in a relationship between a husband and wife, beyond the narrow economic front. It can't straighten out the relationships you have with your children—in fact, it can make them worse.

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

The evidence suggests, unfortunately, that once you roughly earn a lower middle-class standard of living, additional money you earn beyond that has almost no effect on your quality of life.

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

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.

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

Unless women have the chance to take up an active role in our economies and fulfil their potential, our ambitions for a fairer and more prosperous world simply won't be realised.

Wife of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair & Human rights lawyer

The 'confidence gap' begins to manifest itself in girls at an alarmingly young age. For example, a recent study on gender stereotypes and children's perception of brilliance revealed the worrying fact that girls start doubting their own intelligence and capabilities as early as age six.

Wife of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair & Human rights lawyer

If history has taught us anything, it's that women rarely win anything without a fight!

Wife of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair & Human rights lawyer

I believe that working towards women's economic empowerment at the global level is the single most important battle we will fight in our lifetime, and that's because harnessing the incredible talents and potential of women is not only the right thing to do – it will also create stronger economies and a fairer society for all.

Wife of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair & Human rights lawyer

Our world needs a more reflective way of communicating, something which the media are not promoting. We need an antidote to the current shooting-from-the-hip, and outrage sparking emotive content that is causing mutual incomprehension, it's a tragedy.

Curator of TED Talks & Author of "The Long Tail

Screens are weapons of mass distraction, and as audiences we have to listen and give speakers a chance.

Curator of TED Talks & Author of "The Long Tail

Most people we have worked with who have accomplished great things have an other-centred purpose, and that's never just 'make a lot of money…' – it could be to make women's lives easier, to close the inequality gap, to change the world, it's something which isn't strictly personal and selfish.

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

Our disconnection from nature has led to such irreverence towards the earth, a kind of murderous environmental rampage, a collective matricide. We destroy the forests, we pollute the waters, we violate the earth to the point where environmental damage now threatens the long-term survival of our species.

Author of "A Return to Love" & Spiritual Activist

The zeitgeist of this moment is not about charismatic leaders but about an awakened citizenry. This isn't an era of soloists. It's an era of change led by the choir, where everyone is learning to sing their own note by living as authentically as we can.

Author of "A Return to Love" & Spiritual Activist

You cannot genuinely connect with another human being through technology. You can only connect with other human beings through the mind, and through love, but technology can serve the process.

Author of "A Return to Love" & Spiritual Activist

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.

Author of "A Return to Love" & Spiritual Activist