“The key to being successful in business is trust, you have to trust the people you work with. This trust must co-exist with competence. First and foremost the people in your business have to be extremely competent at what they do, and then it's up-to you as a leader to have trust in them.”
— Frederik Paulsen, Jr.

The quote archive

Philosophy

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

The issue you're worried about, the one you're likely spending most of your time discussing, isn't the only problem in the world. We tend to lose sight of this because we often perceive our immediate tasks as the most crucial. Given the multitude of issues we need to address, the goal shouldn't be to resolve a single problem in an exhaustive and expensive way.

— Bjørn Lomborg

Environmental Economist & Author Known for Challenging Climate Alarmism

We can use the pain of our past as a catapult propelling us forward. As the saying goes, 'the best revenge is a life well-lived.' So, the most gratifying way to spite all those who tried to harm me during my childhood is to say, 'Look at me now; I'm speaking to Vikas Shah, 50 years later.'

— Gad Saad

Evolutionary Psychologist & Author Known for Consumer Behavior Research

Seneca elucidates how a tree needs exposure to wind stressors to grow strong and establish deep roots. Without such stressors, it becomes brittle and can break off easily. I argue that a crucial aspect of excelling at the game of life is to expose oneself to stressors that, hopefully, won't be fatal. As the saying goes, 'what does not kill you makes you stronger.'

— Gad Saad

Evolutionary Psychologist & Author Known for Consumer Behavior Research

My argument is that happiness shouldn't be pursued deliberately. Happiness is more of a by-product, a downstream effect of making sound decisions, and adopting the right mindset. I cite a quote from Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, in his book, 'Man's Search for Meaning'. He posits that success shouldn't be sought deliberately but rather, it's something that materialises when one is engaged in meaningful endeavours. This logic applies perfectly to happiness as well.

— Gad Saad

Evolutionary Psychologist & Author Known for Consumer Behavior Research

When I talk about happiness, envision yourself at the ripe age of 85, comfortably seated on that metaphorical porch, reflecting upon your life. You're thinking, 'Good heavens, I've genuinely led a fulfilling life. I've established a loving family, spent my life with an extraordinary partner, and devoted myself to a profession that's injected an immense sense of purpose into my existence. I have minimal regrets and have maintained a light-hearted, playful approach to life.' This, to me, is what I would categorise as a profound sense of existential happiness.

— Gad Saad

Evolutionary Psychologist & Author Known for Consumer Behavior Research

Our aspirations frequently get clouded by external expectations—be it from friends, family, or society at large. This interference can make it tough to discern our authentic passions. Hence, it's crucial to connect deeply with our core purpose, values, and the reasons behind our desires.

— Roxie Nafousi

Manifesting involves leveraging the mind's power to shape our reality. For me, it's more than just a concept; it's a self-development tool and a way of life. It's about finding the best version of oneself, gaining empowerment, and unlocking the potential for positive change and transformation.

— Roxie Nafousi

When I set a goal for myself, and achieve that goal, that's what winning is to me. When you set out on that yellow-brick-road of life to fulfil your goals, just be the best you can be – and whether that means you finish as champion, first, second, tenth, whatever… if you've done your best? You're winning.

— Bruce Buffer

UFC and Pride Fighting Championships Announcer

The level of preparation before fighters' step into the octagon is huge – at minimum fighters will train for 6-8 week, non-stop at camp, just for this 3 or 5, 5 minute-a-round battle. It is the loneliest sport in the world when it comes to it…. you are training with your team, but once you enter the octagon and that gate closes? It is you alone.

— Bruce Buffer

UFC and Pride Fighting Championships Announcer

Martial arts is my greatest passion in life, and it has given me everything: my values, my family, my business, and my true calling. It has given me a warrior's spirit to conquer adversities in life.

— Chatri Sityodtong

Founder and Chairman of ONE Championship, premier Asian MMA organization

Life is not a race against other people. Life is a competition with yourself. One of the greatest achievements in life is to outperform yourself and live your greatest life possible. Greatness lives in all of us, but we must all find what it is that ignites our souls.

— Chatri Sityodtong

Founder and Chairman of ONE Championship, premier Asian MMA organization

I owned a US$500 million hedge fund when I decided to retire from Wall Street. On paper, I was on top of the world. Inside, though, something was missing. All of the money and material things in the world could never fill that void. It was painful to admit, but I had climbed up to the top of the wrong mountain.

— Chatri Sityodtong

Founder and Chairman of ONE Championship, premier Asian MMA organization

When you invest in training individuals, they often become more devoted to your organization. It's almost like a karmic cycle - creating a virtuous cycle of growth and loyalty.

— Sridhar Vembu

Founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, cloud computing company

Historically, we've viewed the human mind as the paramount problem solver. Yet, is it still our ally, or has it become our adversary? I believe we're at a juncture where the human mind is shifting towards the latter.

— Bryan Johnson

Biohacker & Blueprint Project Founder focused on extreme longevity optimization

The act of humans making choices will become a mere memory. We'll be spectators in a novel arena. But is this the zenith of liberty or just a cage?

— Bryan Johnson

Biohacker & Blueprint Project Founder focused on extreme longevity optimization

For the first time as a species, we're truly in the dark about what's around the corner. In the past, the human brain could synthesize information and anticipate the future. But now, in an era where computational intelligence dominates innovation, no human can accurately forecast what lies ahead.

— Bryan Johnson

Biohacker & Blueprint Project Founder focused on extreme longevity optimization