“I believe the traditional perception, which posits that success is merely an accumulation of advantages while failure is an accumulation of disadvantages, is overly simplistic. It's the disadvantages that offer a more fertile ground for learning, albeit for a smaller cohort. The depth of learning and engagement derived from tackling difficulties is substantially richer compared to that gleaned from facing advantages.”— Malcolm Gladwell
The quote archive
A growing archive of 3,000+ moments, drawn from every interview.
Power is seized with the gun and maintained with the pen. Controlling public opinion through propaganda and misinformation is the most critical task of an authoritarian power.
— Ai WeiweiChinese Artist & Dissident; Prominent Human Rights Activist and Political Critic
What we're seeing is a global shift towards meaning and WeWork is helping achieve that on a global scale.
— Miguel McKelveyCo-founder of WeWork, co-working space company
We have to shift the focus of our discussions on Europe to trying to deal with the citizens' concerns. And I mean simple things, like 'I can't buy an iTunes record for someone living in a different country because of the geolocation requirements and copyright'.
— Toomas Hendrik IlvesFormer President of Estonia & Cybersecurity Pioneer
In my case, and for many people I know, a European identity is something that was denied to us for 50 years. For 50 years, Estonia was occupied by the Soviets, and so- for us- for our people, who were under communist domination, we were comfortable and happy to take on a European identity when we gained independence.
— Toomas Hendrik IlvesFormer President of Estonia & Cybersecurity Pioneer
Bias means your mind, your experiences, and your knowledge is too narrow to take in and truly appreciate the person standing in front of you. We have to hold all humans in respect.
— May-Britt MoserNeuroscientist; Nobel Prize for discovering brain's positioning system cells
I don't think about myself as a woman in these contexts, I think about myself as a human. We should take advantage of our qualities and not trying to change or hide them.
— May-Britt MoserNeuroscientist; Nobel Prize for discovering brain's positioning system cells
Diversity brings interesting ideas, interesting challenges and creativity. If there are too many females in a field, then get more men! If there are too many men in a field, get more women!
— May-Britt MoserNeuroscientist; 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 McKennaBritish actress known for "Born Free" and animal welfare advocacy
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.
— Cherie BlairWife of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair & Human rights lawyer
Where decent jobs are scarce, women can achieve financial independence by becoming job creators rather than job seekers – providing, of course, that they have the right support and opportunities to do so.
— Cherie BlairWife of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair & Human rights lawyer
Research shows that empowering women to gain financial independence generates lasting impact, with women typically investing 90% of their income back into their families. In addition to this, McKinsey estimates that if women and men were to play an identical role in labour markets across the world, an extra $28 trillion would be added to the global economy by 2025.
— Cherie BlairWife 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.
— Cherie BlairWife of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair & Human rights lawyer
Sometimes it's hard to shake the feeling that we are slipping backwards, but I'm an optimist at heart. We have a long way to go, but if history has taught us anything, it's that women rarely win anything without a fight!
— Cherie BlairWife of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair & Human rights lawyer
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 EvansNobody should ever feel isolated, or like they have nowhere to turn. Whether it's at school, home, or in the workplace. Nobody should ever feel a cultural burden of silence around mental health challenges.
— Chirlane McCrayWife of NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio; Mental Health Advocate & Poet
The truth is that many in the clergy don't know what to do when people come to them with something that can't be prayed away! They need the right training, support and signposting skills to help.
— Chirlane McCrayWife of NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio; Mental Health Advocate & Poet