“One of the great ironies of a company like Meta, where I worked, is that well over 90% of its users are outside the US, yet well over 90% of the bandwidth among decision-makers is focused on what's happening in America. In the end, that just doesn't make sense.”— Sir Nick Clegg
The quote archive
A growing archive of 3,000+ moments, drawn from every interview.
If those assets are not being productively converted into goods and services that make the world a better place, it's a missed opportunity. Over the past half-century, we've standardised on a 'way' to do things – and that's clearly flawed but continues. We need managers and leaders to up their game if we're going to hope to tackle the environmental, inequality and other crises we face.
— Roger L. MartinManagement theorist & former Dean of Rotman School of Business
It's fair to say that life felt more secure 40 years ago. You felt safer in your home, on the streets, in school, you just felt safer. If people suggest that humanity is becoming less 'human' – it's because we've allowed civilized conduct to deteriorate and that's what I've fought against for my entire professional career.
— Judge Judith SheindlinCreator and star of TV show "Judge Judy" for 25 years
I've said to my children, and grandchildren, that if you do the right thing – there's no guarantee that the right thing will happen. That's the way of the world. If you do the wrong thing however, you'll face karma. If you do the wrong thing? At some point in your life, something bad is going to happen to you.
— Judge Judith SheindlinCreator and star of TV show "Judge Judy" for 25 years
When you're involved in conflict, you're not sane. You may start out being sane, and in those early stages it's certainly possible to mediate and arbitrate. Using those tools you often end up cutting the baby in half – you give a little, I give a little, you give a little more, I give a little more, and suddenly everyone is miserable.
— Judge Judith SheindlinCreator and star of TV show "Judge Judy" for 25 years
Society must demand that you comport yourself within a framework of rules. Once those rules break, society breaks down.
— Judge Judith SheindlinCreator and star of TV show "Judge Judy" for 25 years
There is a degree of laziness and political correctness which has crept into the justice system. Many judges are appointed not elected. They don't want to offend. Instead of making a decision, they 'cut the baby in half' and everyone is left being a little bit miserable. I don't like to cut the baby in half and while I can certainly see more grey areas in the world, my job as a judge is to say, 'you're right, and you're wrong…'
— Judge Judith SheindlinCreator and star of TV show "Judge Judy" for 25 years
Without music, life would be hollow. Music is like food, we need it. It's essential. It's invisible, and doesn't require our attention, and so it gets threaded into our lives. Music becomes a strong part of our memories, our sense of self, and identity.
— Katie MeluaGeorgian-British singer-songwriter known for "Nine Million Bicycles
Song writing is about finding a vision that sets the mood and state for the work and process. Then you need to put in the time and the good vibes to achieve that vision.
— Katie MeluaGeorgian-British singer-songwriter known for "Nine Million Bicycles
When I got better, even simple things like being able to wake-up, go for a walk, speak, and observe life, felt viscerally stunning and good. I found a state of being – a state that gave me perspective and feeling about life and my place in it.
— Katie MeluaGeorgian-British singer-songwriter known for "Nine Million Bicycles
Songs are like a cleanse for the nervous system. I was walking through London the other day, and my mind was full of my to-do list, work, and so much more. I put on She's Always a Woman by Billy Joel and I just suddenly felt psychologically lifted.
— Katie MeluaGeorgian-British singer-songwriter known for "Nine Million Bicycles
I don't think of what I do solely as an expression of me and my life; it's more that I'm someone who loves what happens when a great song comes into my life. I become still. I see life as beautiful… majestic. I feel more like the song is doing something for me rather than me doing something to make the song… or to do to the song.
— Katie MeluaGeorgian-British singer-songwriter known for "Nine Million Bicycles
We must stand up and say that a business model based on secretly tracking us in order to find, and exploit, weaknesses in our attention is not acceptable. It's immoral.
— Johann HariJournalist and author known for books on addiction and depression
We need to be saying, '…fuck you! Stop pouring itching powder over me!' It's like someone is pouring itching powder over us, all day, every day. The same person pouring itching powder over us is also the person saying, 'mate… try this meditation app….'
— Johann HariJournalist and author known for books on addiction and depression
Cruel optimism is where someone comes along with a very simple app which says you can mediate for a few minutes a day and it will give you your attention back. It's optimistic because you're offering a solution in an upbeat tone – but it's cruel because solution is small, and incommensurate to the scale of the causes.
— Johann HariJournalist and author known for books on addiction and depression
I don't think it's a coincidence that globally, we're having the biggest crisis of democracy since the 1930s. At the same time as we're finding it hard to focus and pay attention, we also can't listen to each other and sustain our attention on collective problems.
— Johann HariJournalist and author known for books on addiction and depression
Think about anything you've ever achieved in your life that you're proud of... It will have taken a huge amount of sustained focus and attention. When your ability to focus and pay attention breaks down, so too does your ability to achieve goals.
— Johann HariJournalist and author known for books on addiction and depression