“Just before my father passed away, the company had grown considerably. He said to me, 'I have six children, and who would have believed that you, Frederik, out of all my children would have been the one that succeeded!' I'm not sure that was a compliment!”
— Frederik Paulsen, Jr.

The quote archive

Philosophy

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

The definition of 'purpose' can be questioning, 'What am I doing that's greater than myself? What am I a part of that's bigger than just me?' We now know the most sustainable form of meaningful happiness comes to purpose.

— Jenn Lim

Chief Happiness Officer & Author of "Delivering Happiness

I think in the past, it was more of a zero sum game, and now I think we can play in a positive sum game, which really plays into the whole greenhouse concept, because we can all actually grow together and not feel like we are needing to take in order to achieve.

— Jenn Lim

Chief Happiness Officer & Author of "Delivering Happiness

The rate of change has become exponential and us as human beings physiologically have not been able to adapt. We just cannot physiologically adapt that quickly – what does it mean for us? This is in some ways Darwinian because he said it wasn't about the strongest that survives, it's those that are most able to adapt.

— Jenn Lim

Chief Happiness Officer & Author of "Delivering Happiness

When you observe chimpanzees and other apes, you see how extremely humanlike they are in almost everything they do. We have been so indoctrinated to think we are special (as a species) that when you see an ape up close and see they are- in essence- us, you don't know what to do with those feelings.

— Frans de Waal

Primatologist & behavioral psychologist who studies animal cognition and emotions

You have to make decisions throughout your life and be prepared to accept responsibility for those decisions. There is also confidence that comes from learning a set of skills – and that confidence allows you to challenge the status quo.

— Reggie Fils-Aimé

Former President of Nintendo of America, led iconic console era

I'm also very conscious that my life was saved, and I decided, very early on, to make mine a life worth saving. I don't fritter my days away. I try to do something worthwhile each day, and with that I've become a very happy person.

— Dame Stephanie Shirley

Pioneering Software Engineer & Founder of Freelance Programmers Ltd

For me, success is about harmony, and it has several dimensions. The classic three; intellectual, physical, and spiritual – when those three are in harmony, I feel my life is a success. Money isn't really a part of that.

— Dame Stephanie Shirley

Pioneering Software Engineer & Founder of Freelance Programmers Ltd

There's a concept in psychology called naïve realism. We think we see the world perfectly and assume that everyone sees it the way we do. If they don't? if they disagree? Our assumption is that they are wrong, and that they are misinformed.

— Amy Gallo

Harvard Business Review contributor & workplace dynamics expert

I guess the only thing I would say is if you get to the point to where you could comfortably believe that I could die tomorrow and I wouldn't regret my life, I think at least for me, I think that's where success would be.

— Mitch Lowe

Co-Founder of Netflix & Former Redbox CEO

If you're doing anything for legacy, you might as well forget about it – even your great grandchildren will have no idea who you were or what you did. Legacy lasts 50 years maximum.

— Mitch Lowe

Co-Founder of Netflix & Former Redbox CEO

You are pure awareness. That's who the 'I' is. And awareness is energy. You are pure energy, which is the essence of awareness. Awareness is concentrated energy.

— Dandapani

Hindu priest and mindfulness meditation teacher; former monk at Sri Mahamandir Temple

Either I'm in charge of where my awareness goes, therefore dictating what I'm experiencing and feeling, or I allow my environment to dictate where it goes. Most people become a slave to everyone and everything around them.

— Dandapani

Hindu priest and mindfulness meditation teacher; former monk at Sri Mahamandir Temple

Happiness should never be pursued! Happiness is a by-product of living a lifestyle. How do I design a lifestyle where the by-product of the lifestyle results in happiness? You can't create something you don't know.

— Dandapani

Hindu priest and mindfulness meditation teacher; former monk at Sri Mahamandir Temple

There's nothing more important in life than knowing who you are, the path that you are on and its final end. Who are you? What is your purpose in life? What is the path to living that purpose? Those three things are so critical to know.

— Dandapani

Hindu priest and mindfulness meditation teacher; former monk at Sri Mahamandir Temple

Business problems are idea problems because like most other problems we face, they do not have one answer. The reality is, for any of the problems we face, there are a thousand possible answers.

— Jeremy Utley

Co-Author of "Ideaflow" & Design Thinking Expert at Stanford

Disruption is treated as an event, and it is a constant and that is the interesting sort of fallacy. As humans we want this state of consistency but if we are taking it as a hypothesis, we are constantly being disrupted, constantly changing and the groundwork we are standing on is shifting all the time.

— Perry Klebahn