The 42 best quotes from Elon Musk

One of the greatest entrepreneurs, founder of Tesla or PayPal, brings us his winning philosophy.

One of the most successful entrepreneurs of the last decade, Elon Musk (South Africa, 1971), is recognized for having created PayPal, Tesla Motors, Hyperloop and other projects of international scope.

This investor and entrepreneur is listed as one of the 25 most powerful people in the world by Forbes magazine. Genius and visionary, Elon Musk aspires to change the world with his contribution to different technological projects.

Elon Musk's Famous Quotes

Through the business career of this South African entrepreneur we can be inspired when it comes to starting far-reaching projects. In today's article we have set out to collect the best quotes from Elon Muskas well as his most memorable quotes.

1. Things are not done in different ways so that they are not the same, but so that they are better.

About your dynamic and innovative attitude.

2. To become CEO you don't have to be an expert in marketing and sales; you need to have deep engineering knowledge.

A maxim that few CEOs apply.

Your day will be good if you wake up knowing that you will build a better future. If not, you will have a bad day.

Optimistic phrase to focus on success.

• "The 53 best phrases of success".

4. I create my companies to meet needs, not for the sake of creating them.

A strategic vision about friendships.

5. I will never be a business angel. I do not think it is wise to invest in third party projects. If I am not capable of doing something myself, I don't ask them to invest in it. Therefore, I only invest in my own companies.

Great reflection on the world of investment.

6. I am not in the business of being a guru about broad concepts. My tasks are focused on research to improve our technology.

No global thinking: concrete thinking and innovative spirit. A great quote from Elon Musk.

7. Two people who can't answer an unknown are of no more use than one with great knowledge.

They will probably be more motivated to develop useful changes and innovations.

8. Something can happen if you have first determined that it is likely to happen.

Future vision allows us to move toward change.

9. In my opinion, I think it is a mistake to employ many people to find a solution to a complicated problem. I believe that betting on quantity to the detriment of quality and talent in solving the issue will only slow down the process, which will make it tedious.

It is better to pay a few geniuses very well than hundreds of gregarious people badly.

10. The biggest mistake a human being can make is to put his own startup up for sale.

If you don't trust your own project, it is very likely that no one else will.

11. I like to create things related to new technologies and that break with conventions, so that you tell me: "Amazing! How did you do this? How did you achieve that?".

About your spirit as a developer and researcher.

12. Henry Ford was a pioneer of innovation. He was able to create affordable vehicles to replace horse-drawn carriages and he knew how to deal with the criticism of innovation: Why do we want a car if we already have horses?

A reflection by Elon Musk on the pioneer of motoring.

13. At SpaceX, we don't like assholes.

Great quote from Elon Musk about the kind of people who can't work on the technology project he leads.

14. I consider myself a positive person, but I never shy away from realism. One of my strengths is knowing how to design a product with a value much higher than its production cost.

The higher the profit, the more efficient the product.

15. When I was a child, my parents used to get angry with me because I kept asking them questions and questioning everything they answered. I didn't believe a lot of what they said and I forced them to justify all their answers until I saw sense in them.

In this sentence he tells us about his philosophical spirit and his tendency to find coherent and logical answers.

16. The biggest mistake I have made (and continue to make) is to focus more on the talent than on the character of my team. It is important to surround yourself with people who are kind and have heart.

Head and blood, two virtues inherent to productive workers.

17. The fact of achieving a great innovation and breaking with the established is not the result of one person, or of a breakthrough, but of a whole collective that has allowed it to happen.

The collective over the individual.

18. To start a business you need two things: innovate a great product and have a team behind you full of determination and enthusiasm.

Another of Elon Musk's phrases in which he shows us the way forward: talent, team and enthusiasm.

19. I don't believe in tricks to have an innovative mindset. I think it's a way of thinking along with daring to make decisions.

Courage, courage and determination: the keys to success for entrepreneurs.

20. It is essential to keep the conscience alive so that the future does not disappear.

A human virtue that leads us to overcome the obstacles that may arise.

21. Failure is an option here. If things do not fail, you are not innovating enough.

If everything goes well, you are in your developmental comfort zone.

22. If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should keep trying.

Great enterprises arise from great wills.

23. Brand is only a perception and perception will match reality over time. Sometimes it will be sooner, sometimes later, but the brand is nothing more than a collective impression we have of a product.

About the public image generated by a project.

24. Want to be more rigorous to do the best you can. Find everything that is wrong with it and correct it. Look for negative feedback especially from friends.

A concrete way to improve the product.

25. It's okay to have your eggs in a basket as long as you control what happens to that basket.

Being aware of the environment makes us less vulnerable.

26. Persistence is very important, you should not give up unless you are forced to give up.

A maxim from Elon Musk to persevere even in the worst imaginable circumstances.

27. You want to have a future where you expect things to be better, not one where you expect things to be worse.

It is natural to be optimistic, according to Elon Musk.

28. People work best when they know what the goal is and why. It is important that people feel enthusiastic about coming to work in the morning and enjoy their work.

Enthusiasm and passion for developing unique projects is the key to success.

29. Patience is a virtue and I am learning patience. It's a hard lesson.

For a genius, waiting can take forever. But you have to develop this ability.

30. I came to the conclusion that we should aim to increase the scope and scale of human consciousness to better understand what questions to ask. It really only makes sense to strive for collective enlightenment.

Humanity has a serious problem: it is not asking the right questions.

31. When I was in college I wanted to get involved in things that would change the world.

From a young age I wanted to be part of global projects.

32. I wouldn't say I have a lack of fear. In fact, I would like my emotion of fear to be less because it is very distracting and fries my nervous system.

A reflection by Elon Musk on this very human feeling.

33. Life is too short for long-term grudges.

Get rid of absurd grudges and hatreds if you want to get to the right place.

34. You shouldn't do things differently just to make them different. They need to be better.

Innovation by itself has no value.

35. I believe that life on earth should be about more than just solving problems... It has to be something inspiring, even if it's indirect.

Another quote from Elon Musk that conveys positive energy.

36. What makes innovative thinking happen? I think it's really a way of thinking. You have to make the decision.

It's an attitude, a lifestyle.

37. As much as possible, avoid hiring MBAs. MBA programs do not teach people how to start businesses.

Graduate business programs tend to have no practical application.

38. Being an entrepreneur is like eating glass and standing at the abyss of death.

One of Elon Musk's most famous quotes.

39. I believe it is possible for ordinary people to choose to be extraordinary.

Excellence is merely a matter of choice.

40. Anyone who has truly fought against adversity, never forgets it.

These are things that mark us and make us better.

41. What does it mean to work hard? In my case, when my brother and I started our first company, instead of renting an office, we rented a small apartment and slept on the couch.

Sacrifices are important if you have big goals in mind.

42. Work hard every hour while you are awake, that's what it takes to succeed if you are starting a new business.

Very much in line with the above quote.