“When individual countries hit a crisis, they've got 2 options, they can either look after themselves (at the cost of their neighbours) or they can create rules which they (and everyone else) will abide by, which requires institutions.”
— Ngaire Woods
Director of the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University

The quote archive

Philosophy

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

We all experience challenges. If you always make one thing your excuse or let other people drag you down because of something like your gender, it will become your prophecy. Whatever reason, you will never know for sure. You just have to keep fighting.

— May-Britt Moser

Neuroscientist; Nobel Prize for discovering brain's positioning system cells

We are the master race. We are the creatures who impose our will on virtually everything that lives and breathes. It's deeply shocking when you start to think about the scale of it.

— Virginia McKenna

British actress known for "Born Free" and animal welfare advocacy

I hated it! I absolutely hated it without knowing why really, at that age. And these two contrasting images in a way became symbols for the rest of my life and the way I think about wildlife. One is how not to keep them, and one is how to leave them alone where they should be.

— Virginia McKenna

British actress known for "Born Free" and animal welfare advocacy

Ancient philosophy almost hasn't been bettered as a kind of therapeutic toolbox in 2400 years, and have a certain aesthetic to them which makes you feel part of a long tradition.

— Jules Evans

Greek philosophers had this idea that philosophy has to be a daily practice. It can't just be this kind of French existentialist idea of a nice conversation once a week in a café. It has to be a kind of, daily practice.

— Jules Evans

You can't control what happens to you, you can only control how you react to it. So, focusing on what's in your control and accepting for the time being what's beyond your control is a really useful therapeutic idea.

— Jules Evans

Our emotions are connected to our beliefs and opinions. Epictetus said what causes men suffering is not events, but their opinion about events. That piece of wisdom is very useful because it gives you some ability to have control over your emotions.

— Jules Evans

We all have philosophies which form the basis for our motivations and what we do with our days. Everyone has their own philosophy of life; every institution has a philosophy... but for most of us, those philosophies are unexamined and more or less automatic and instinctual.

— Jules Evans

Endurance stays with you across everything, if you do it one place, you can do it anywhere. You're able to sustain because you've already trained your brain to do that.

— David Blaine

Illusionist & Street Magician Known for Endurance Stunts & Television Specials

Endurance is mind over body. It's about tapping into something within us that allows us to push further than we ever thought possible, especially at our weakest moments.

— David Blaine

Illusionist & Street Magician Known for Endurance Stunts & Television Specials

I don't think it's money that corrupts people, I really don't. I think it's the idea that when you make money without having a tangible creation attached to that money, it has no value.

— Jordan Belfort

Stock Broker Convicted of Fraud; Subject of "The Wolf of Wall Street

Art, for him, is a crucial means for turning thinking into doing in the world.

— Olafur Eliasson

Icelandic-Danish artist known for immersive light and weather installations

an object must be useful before being beautiful.

— Philippe Starck

Renowned French Industrial Designer & Architect Known for Innovative Product Design

No one has to be a genius, but everyone has to participate.

— Philippe Starck

Renowned French Industrial Designer & Architect Known for Innovative Product Design

Subversive, ethical, ecological, political, humorous… this is how I see my duty as a designer.

— Philippe Starck

Renowned French Industrial Designer & Architect Known for Innovative Product Design

San Francisco is the city of love and compassion, will always be, and will never change that.

— Edwin M. Lee

Mayor of San Francisco (2011-2018) & First Asian-American Mayor