“Music can help us heal and achieve therapeutic outcomes by tapping into various neurochemical circuits that influence mood and behaviour. Ours was the first lab to show that listening to music releases the brain's natural pain relievers—opioids. Relaxing music can modulate prolactin, a soothing, tranquilizing hormone. Music also releases dopamine which helps us to focus and motivates us to stay on task.”
— Daniel J. Levitin
Neuroscientist & author of "This Is Your Brain on Music

The quote archive

Society

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

For four decades, real wages for Americans haven't experienced any significant growth. Prior to the pandemic, it was reported by the Brookings Institute that 53 million Americans were trapped in low wage jobs, where their earnings failed to adequately cover their needs.

— Zeynep Ton

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

Relationships are an emotional exchange hub. We bestow energy upon one another, help each other de-stress, and ignite joy in each other's lives. However, we must acknowledge that the digital realm filters out a significant portion of our emotional bandwidth.

— Robert J. Waldinger

Director of Harvard Study of Adult Development & Psychiatrist

When we crafted that phrase, it was because we saw a similarity with physical fitness. If you work out today, you don't return home and declare, 'Great, I'm finished, I never have to exercise again.' Those with the strongest social bonds diligently nurture them throughout their lives.

— Robert J. Waldinger

Director of Harvard Study of Adult Development & Psychiatrist

When our original participants reached approximately 80 years of age, we asked what are your greatest sources of pride, and what are your deepest regrets? The predominant regret was the disproportionate time spent working and the inadequate time spent with loved ones.

— Robert J. Waldinger

Director of Harvard Study of Adult Development & Psychiatrist

We found that those who enjoyed the best health, and not just the greatest happiness, were the individuals who had nurtured stronger relationships with others. From this, we deduced that those who put considerable effort into maintaining their relationships navigated life's challenges with greater ease.

— Robert J. Waldinger

Director of Harvard Study of Adult Development & Psychiatrist

Contributing to society comes in many forms. Meaningful careers not only fulfil our team members but also drive the broader economy as employees become taxpayers. This virtuous circle is a fundamental contribution to society.

— Ajaz Ahmed

India boasts a robust workforce with nearly 5 million developers, a vast, young demographic, a burgeoning middle class, and a tech-enabled, English-speaking workforce. All these factors combine to offer what could be the opportunity of the decade for India.

— Girish Mathrubootham

Founder and CEO of Freshworks, cloud-based software company

Open-source evidence is essentially public information available to anyone and can be traced back to its original source. We've always maintained transparency in our methodologies and the step-by-step processes we employ.

— Eliot Higgins

Founder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network

If someone can take our findings and draw out additional insights, we consider it a triumph. Our aim is to constantly enhance our understanding of the world, and contributions from others are invaluable in this pursuit.

— Eliot Higgins

Founder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network

It's essentially a democratic revolution, wresting control from the conventional gatekeepers like intelligence agencies and the media.

— Eliot Higgins

Founder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network

I proposed that individuals should prioritize searching for the relationship they desire, not necessarily the person. The person should ideally align with the relationship dynamic you're seeking, akin to meeting the requirements of a job description.

— Dr. Stan Tatkin

Psychotherapist & developer of Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT)

We're discussing the challenging feat for our species of being both self-advocating and relationship-oriented, particularly in stressful circumstances. When stressed, we all tend to lean towards self-preservation, which may be perceived as a threat by others.

— Dr. Stan Tatkin

Psychotherapist & developer of Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT)

We possess an essence deeper than mere job titles, yet society often deviates us from it. We're conditioned to identify with our roles more than our core selves.

— Suneel Gupta

80% of ten-year-olds in these countries struggle with basic comprehension, even though they can technically read individual words. This lack of understanding severely hinders their future productivity.

— Bjørn Lomborg

Environmental Economist & Author Known for Challenging Climate Alarmism

Our goal is to pinpoint where we can create the most value for humanity per dollar, rupee, or shilling spent. This isn't usually something that makes you wealthy, but it does a significant amount of good in three ways: it helps people survive and stay healthy rather than falling ill or dying; it alleviates poverty; and it improves the environment.

— Bjørn Lomborg

Environmental Economist & Author Known for Challenging Climate Alarmism

If an average developing nation had the UK's primary and secondary education level, it would be approximately 40% wealthier. It's indisputable that education makes individuals highly productive, making countries richer in the long run.

— Bjørn Lomborg

Environmental Economist & Author Known for Challenging Climate Alarmism