I know Elon, we’re very like minded in many ways. We’re not conceptual twins. One thing I want us to do is go to Mars, but for me it’s one thing. He’s singularly focused on that. I think motivation wise, for me I don’t find that Plan B idea motivating. I don’t want a plan B for Earth, I want Plan B to make sure Plan A works.

‚Victory‘ is like, you won, so the question is, what? What did you win? I think that the songs go into that. It’s just about reaching a place in myself.

If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.

That is why, no matter how desperate the predicament is, I am always very much in earnest about clutching my cane, straightening my derby hat and fixing my tie, even though I have just landed on my head.

People always say that you can’t please everybody. I think that’s a cop-out. Why not attempt it? ‚Cause think of all the people you will please if you try.

We usually lose today, because there has been a yesterday, and tomorrow is coming.

No great intellectual thing was ever done by great effort.

Great acts are made up of small deeds.

Heroes may not be braver than anyone else. They’re just braver five minutes longer.

If you get knocked down – setbacks in life, like applying for a job if they don’t hire you – keep trying, keep getting up, keep doing it.

Everybody wants to be somebody; nobody wants to grow.

You have to stay faithful to what you’re working on.

Either you run the day or the day runs you.

Ronald Reagan used to alarm his Soviet counterparts by saying that surely they’d both unite against an invasion from Mars.

Anytime someone tells me that I can’t do something, I want to do it more.

The best way out is always through.

I can’t keep somebody from being a star, and I can’t make somebody a star, and nobody can.

I don’t believe in pessimism. If something doesn’t come up the way you want, forge ahead. If you think it’s going to rain, it will.

Never, never, never give up.

Do your job. Do it the best you can. Do it right, because somebody, sometimes your best friend, is waiting for you to screw up so she can take your place.

My mother, I suppose, is still a main figure in my life because her life was so sad and unfair, and she so brave, but also because she was determined to make me into the Sunday-school-recitation little girl I was, from the age of seven or so, fighting not to be.

Flaming enthusiasm, backed up by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success.

Siren voices tell me, ‚You don’t have to keep going on.‘ And then you think, ‚I’m a writer. What do I do? Sit there watching my wife clean up?‘ I don’t know. I like being a writer.

Love to everybody who is out there progressing and taking things to the next level.

We are never defeated unless we give up on God.

After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.

When you play, play hard; when you work, don’t play at all.

I don’t feel pressure in a negative way. I like pressure. I feel excitement and calm at the same time. No pressure, no diamonds. I want pressure: pressure creates drama, creates emotion.

If you can dream it, you can do it.

A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better.

Take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly, and try another. But by all means, try something.

Every action needs to be prompted by a motive.

What one has, one ought to use: and whatever he does he should do with all his might.

It always seems impossible until it’s done.

People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.

Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.

I am only an average man but, by George, I work harder at it than the average man.

It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.

The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.

All achievements, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea.

For a long time, I had the idea that I would do a certain amount of work the best I could, and then I would reach a comfort zone, and I wouldn’t be pushed to write more. I would become a different person. It’s a surprise to me that this hasn’t happened. Your body ages, but your mind is the same.

You know, there is always times where you feel discouraged and things coming against you, but I don’t know if I ever wanted to throw in the towel.

God sent me on earth. He send me to do something, and nobody can stop me. If God want to stop me, then I stop. Man never can.

Because a thing seems difficult for you, do not think it impossible for anyone to accomplish.

Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that’s real power.

If I’m going to get you to do stuff, I need to lead you. I can’t just order you to do it.

Carry the battle to them. Don’t let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don’t ever apologize for anything.

Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.

Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor.

If I wish to compose or write or pray or preach well, I must be angry. Then all the blood in my veins is stirred, and my understanding is sharpened.

If you want to be enthusiastic, act enthusiastic.

Above everything else I’ve done, I’ve always said I’ve had more guts than I’ve got talent.

We will not waver; we will not tire; we will not falter, and we will not fail. Peace and Freedom will prevail.

I know what it feels like to struggle to get the education that you need.

Losing is not an option in Kolkata. It’s not easy, a lot of players even quit.

Don’t give in to excuses that can keep you from really living the best life God has for you.

If there was an observer on Mars, they would probably be amazed that we have survived this long.

I have goals.

Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.

Founding a company is hard. Most of it isn’t smooth. You’ll have to make very hard decisions. You have to fire a few people. Therefore, if you don’t believe in your mission, giving up is easy. The majority of founders give up. But the best founders don’t give up.

What really motivates people at Facebook is building something that’s worthwhile, that they’re going to be proud to show to friends and family.