“Music is woven into the fabric of the universe. As far back as Pythagoras and Kepler, scientists were writing about the fact that music was intrinsic in the planets… part of the harmonic series in sound. We also have a whole branch of knowledge called zoomusicology, which shows that an appreciation of music and sound is a part of nature, not just unique to humans.”
— Nitin Sawhney
British-Indian composer and musician known for world music and film scores

The quote archive

Wisdom in fragments

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

Mill has this thoughtful chapter on freedom of thought, but it is all based on the assumption that you have the ability to think freely inside your mind and that part can't be penetrated. We are very porous now, and it isn't just through neurotechnology, it is through all modes of technology that are designed to interpret and change our cognitive and effective functioning.

— Nita Farahany

Neuroethicist & Duke Law professor specializing in neurorights and genetics policy

Martin Luther King Jr.

— Martin Luther King Jr.

Civil Rights Leader Who Advanced Racial Equality Through Nonviolent Protest

Steve Jobs

— Steve Jobs

Co-Founder of Apple & Pioneer of Personal Computing

I hope that the totality of what I've done, or that which Freada and I have done together, really gives people a sense of hope and possibility, in a practical way, that business can be a constructive force in the world and genuinely help make the world a better place for everyone.

— Mitchell Kapor

Founder of Lotus Development Corporation & Digital Pioneer

We can prove, with over 150 companies we've invested in – that you can simultaneously create value for the investor, and society. The reality is this- you can create value economically and socially in parallel – there isn't a contradiction.

— Mitchell Kapor

Founder of Lotus Development Corporation & Digital Pioneer

My wife Freada coined a phrase, distance travelled. We're very interested in where somebody started in life, and what hurdles and barriers they have already overcome in their journey – and how that grit has got them to where they are now. That's an indicator of resilience, persistence, and many other character traits that are significant in terms of entrepreneurial success.

— Mitchell Kapor

Founder of Lotus Development Corporation & Digital Pioneer

We have lived through an era where success has been defined only in financial terms- leaving out any consideration of the impact of business on communities or the world. Just because accounting standards don't require you to measure certain things, doesn't mean those things aren't real.

— Mitchell Kapor

Founder of Lotus Development Corporation & Digital Pioneer

Most of the venture backed businesses, and venture capital firms, are a mirror-tocracy not a meritocracy! Senior executives are disproportionately drawn from a narrow stratum of society – in the US, this means Ivy-League Schools such as Stanford. They tend to be overwhelmingly white (and increasingly now Asian) but certainly overwhelmingly male.

— Mitchell Kapor

Founder of Lotus Development Corporation & Digital Pioneer

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 endeavored to make the world a better place. This book holds the key to one of the universe's greatest mysteries: the deciding factors for entry into heaven.

— Maurice Saatchi

Co-Founder of Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Agency

I wanted to impart this fundamental philosophy that a person should endeavour to better the world, an aspiration divorced from monetary considerations. While some might contend that financial power is a prerequisite for effecting change, I don't subscribe to this belief.

— Maurice Saatchi

Co-Founder of Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Agency

I'd argue it's easier now than ever, given the world's increasing openness to varied perspectives. Society's acceptance of homosexuality was a significant milestone, and now we're witnessing similar progress concerning gender issues. I perceive these shifts as testament to the world's growing receptivity to new ideas.

— Maurice Saatchi

Co-Founder of Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Agency

There will be no cure for cancer until real doctors with real patients in real hospitals can attempt an innovation. The court is primarily interested in the effort made, in the attempt. That is what truly counts.

— Maurice Saatchi

Co-Founder of Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Agency

The true measure of success, as I see it, lies in the effort to effect positive change in the world. However, this perspective isn't universally embraced. The feeling of success, it's crucial to clarify, has little to do with financial gain or even fame. These are two entirely distinct concepts.

— Maurice Saatchi

Co-Founder of Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Agency

Our relationship with the ocean is beautiful – you frequently see people at the shoreline, just in prayer or meditating… connecting with the ocean, letting the waves wash over them… Being around the ocean is our connection to something bigger- you can just lay in the ocean and let your worries wash away.

— Sally Fitzgibbons

Professional surfer and multiple-time world championship competitor

I fell in love with the process first – they sometimes call it the grind. I fell in love with movement, with training, with everything between the competitions – and falling in love with that was instrumental to me because now, when things don't go right, and I feel vulnerable or emotional, I can dip into that state.

— Sally Fitzgibbons

Professional surfer and multiple-time world championship competitor

There's just enough in your control where you think you should be able to perform or deliver on any given day – but when you really sit and think about it, you're basically trying to be predictive text for the ocean.

— Sally Fitzgibbons

Professional surfer and multiple-time world championship competitor