“The ice is neither left nor right, it is neither Republican nor Democrat, it is simply melting. The consequences of the sea ice melting are enormous and will be felt everywhere from Texas to China.”
— Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson
Former President of Iceland (1996-2016)

The quote archive

Society

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

The essence of this connection lies in an enduring quest to effect positive change in the world. The judgement criteria revolve around whether the individual in question endeavored to make the world a better place.

— Maurice Saatchi

Co-Founder of Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Agency

So many things in life divide us – the colour of our skin, the language we speak, the god we worship, but when we run, we're the same. When we run, we're united, it's a commonality across our species like nothing else.

— Dean Karnazes

Ultramarathon runner known for extreme endurance feats and adventures

The conversation I want us to have is, 'This could be any one of us.' Frequently, when we point out 'them', we're referring to the corporate, narcissistic, aggressive, high-achievers, often the deliberate culprits. Their stories pervade our movies and crime podcasts, enabling us to distance ourselves because we can't necessarily identify with their actions.

— Kelly Richmond Pope

Forensic Accountant & Professor; Expert on Corporate Fraud and Whistleblowing

Even prior to the pandemic, we were witnessing double-digit increases in nearly every major category of mental disorder—be it anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance misuse, or suicide. These are considerable issues, and the pandemic, like a magnifying glass, has only intensified them.

— Carl D. Marci

Consider the adoption rates of various technologies: for telephone and electricity, it took approximately 15 years to jump from a 50% to 75% market share. With the advent of the internet and computers, that span dropped to 10 years. Television achieved this in only 5 years. But smartphones? They shattered all records with a mere 3-year period.

— Carl D. Marci

In my research spanning the last decade, it struck me that we might be conducting a massive, uncontrolled experiment on an entire generation of humans, without fully understanding the potential ramifications. We're all altering our behaviors due to the advent of mobile information, media, and communications technology.

— Carl D. Marci

The more we trust the 'gold' within ourselves, the more we are able to see it in others. Due to our negativity bias, it's easy to focus on the flaws or defenses in others. However, the more we train ourselves to see the goodness in others, the more we can recognize it.

— Tara Brach

Meditation Teacher & Author of "Radical Acceptance

In essence, we suffer from a mistaken identity, identifying ourselves as individuals rather than recognizing our interconnectedness. Through evolution, we've developed the ability to sense connection, collaborate, empathize, and show compassion, gradually discovering our belonging to a larger whole.

— Tara Brach

Meditation Teacher & Author of "Radical Acceptance

Without a doubt, even when an influencer is reaching out to a million followers about fashion, they are still communicating with a million people. That's a staggering degree of influence.

— Stephanie McNeal

If power is bestowed on someone, there's always the risk of exploitation. It's our collective responsibility as a society to establish boundaries and guidelines. We must push for government regulation.

— Stephanie McNeal

Influencers wield enormous influence, and sometimes, this can manifest negatively. The spread of anti-vaccination rhetoric, the reluctance to use sunscreen, and the rise of conspiracy theories like QAnon can be profoundly damaging.

— Stephanie McNeal

This single revenue source, within less than ten years of its existence, has empowered women to such an extent. This clearly shows the significant influence and impact it has had on these women's lives, on female representation, and on the power that money wields.

— Stephanie McNeal

In a democracy, an informed citizenry can act as a driving force for more robust and effective foreign policies and strategies related to national security, thereby fostering peace and encouraging prosperity. However, the lack of such comprehensive education has been a stumbling block.

— General H.R. McMaster

U.S. National Security Advisor under President Donald Trump

When considering the prevalence of this disease, we're speaking of 7 million diagnosed patients in the US. But how many Americans currently have the initial stages of Alzheimer's already festering in their brains? I concur with the higher estimates, suggesting around 40 million people.

— Dr. Rudolph Tanzi

Alzheimer's disease researcher and Harvard Medical School neuroscientist

Truth be told, fatherhood was never a role I envisioned for myself, never an ambition I pursued. Yet now, I consider it the most defining aspect of my identity and my place in the world.

— Andrew McCarthy

Actor known for 1980s films like "St. Elmo's Fire

Firstly, pay has to be high enough to give people agency in their own lives and secondly, humans have to be treated like humans. Those are the minimum conditions for good jobs – there also needs to be a career path that enables people to learn and grow in their jobs.

— Zeynep Ton

MIT Professor & Author on Retail Operations & Low-Wage Work