This is part 2 of the best quotes series. You can read part 1 here if you already have not.

Enjoy!


1.

“Before you can lie to another, you must first lie to yourself.” -Naval

Whatever happens outside of ourselves, happens first inside our brains. So, if we want to tell a lie to someone, we first need to tell & think that lie to ourselves.


2.

“The modern devil is cheap dopamine.” -Naval

Social media has created this cheap dopamine cycle which has affected almost everyone. That constant desire to get more likes & followers, have affected (negatively) our brains.


3.

“If you really want something, you will find a way.” -Unknown

If you really want something, you will take all the actions necessary to achieve that, and when we try our best & do smart work, we find ways to achieve that.


4.

“When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favour.” -Elon Musk

Importance of something matters more than the chances of success. For example, if someone has cancer & chances of success of the surgery is less than 5%, we will do it. Because the importance of that is high enough that, chances of success & cost doesn’t affect us.


5.

“When making plans, think big. When making progress, think small.” -James Clear

Make big & ambitious plans. But while moving towards that pre-defined goal, don’t expect results every time. Don’t get ahead of yourselves while making actions.


6.

“If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.” -Confucius

Correcting & learning from mistakes is no more a mistake. But if we deny our fault in the mistake & don’t learn from it, then it’s the mistake.


7.

“Distractions aren’t the problem, lack of focus is.” -Unknown

Even if distractions are very high, a clear focus can break it. If focus is less, then small distractions will seem very high.


8.

“Don’t burn the whole house just because there’s one cockroach in it.” -Unknown

Comparatively small & insignificant things should not be the reason to break or tear down huge things. Sometimes, we need to ignore small things in the pursuit of something big.


9.

“If you are smart, let them win the arguments.” -Unknown

No one wins in arguments. Person who wins loses the other person himself. So, in arguments, let others win & save the relationship, which is bigger than small arguments.


10.

“I, and I alone, am responsible for everything I think and feel.” -Naval

Understanding us as the reason for whatever happens to us saves us from the victim mentality. We can not always blame others. Most of the time, we are the ones who need to take responsibility for what happens to us.


11.

“Science requires skepticism. Religion requires belief.” -Naval

Science tells us to question everything. Even the basic beliefs. But religion tells us to believe big things without questioning it with expectation of proper logical answers which makes sense.


12.

“Every action has its pleasures and its price.” -Socrates

Everything has something positive & negative. Ratio of positive & negative may differ but they will always be non-zero.


13.

“Those who fly solo have the strongest wings.” -Unknown

Flying solo requires many things which are not required in following crowds. It takes courage & an extra amount of thinking to go solo on undiscovered paths.


14.

If you can’t explain it simply you don’t understand it well enough. -Albert Einstein

Ability to make complex things simple is rare. Person who has truly understood something can explain it in a simple manner. Because to simplify, we first boil it down to first principles.


15.

“As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.” -Bill Gates

Leaders are those who can set an example & then empower others to do the same. People follow leaders who can make them feel special & worthful.


16.

“Clarity is just when a calm mind compounds on itself.” -Unknown

Calm mind generates clear thoughts. When a calm mind keeps doing it, clarity happens.


17.

“Practice is the price you pay today to be better tomorrow.” -James Clear

We need to put in smart & hard work today to expect big results tomorrow. So, we first need to pay the price, then we can get better results.


18.

“I know you won’t believe me, but the highest form of human excellence is to question one-self & others.” -Socrates

The attitude of “question everything” is gold. Don’t blindly believe what someone tells us without giving it a thought yourself.


19.

“Long-term thinking is simple once you are the master of your short-term desires.” -Unknown

When you can give-up short-term desires, long-term thinking becomes easy. As generally in long-term thinking, we need to make some sacrifices in the short-term.


20.

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” -Confucius

If we look closely, everything around us was innovation at one point of time. Whether it’s a mobile-phone, laptop, pen, airplane or a simple tire in the vehicle. Everything has lots of effort inside them. See the beauty of it & don’t take them for granted.


Reading alone is not enough, take inspiration from above quotes & apply them in your life too.

There are so many more of these. I think I need to create a 3rd part..