All of us want to be part of something bigger than ourselves, something that matters.

The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very different kind of mind - creators and empathizers, pattern recognizers and meaning makers.

The three things that motivate creative people - autonomy, mastery, purpose!

Control leads to compliance; autonomy leads to engagement.

Asking "Why?" can lead to understanding. Asking "Why not?" can lead to breakthroughs.

Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve more and live richer lives.

The misuse of extrinsic rewards, so common in business, impedes creativity, stifles personal satisfaction and turns play into work.

Greatness and nearsightedness are incompatible. Meaningful achievement depends on lifting one's sights and pushing toward the horizon.

Do what you can't and experience the beauty of the mistakes you make.

In many professions, what used to matter most were abilities associated with the left side of the brain: linear, sequential, spreadsheet kind of faculties. Those still matter, but they're not enough.

When the reward is the activity itself--deepening learning, delighting customers, doing one's best--there are no shortcuts.

Yes. We will live the rest of our lives in hell. It's not so bad: as long as you're prepared for it, you can live anywhere.

I think I can say with confidence that it’s a lot funnier if you haven’t actually been attacked by a shark.

Kisses could lie as well as words.

The East Coast, and certainly Boston, has a provincial quality to it that makes it harder to bust out and move up. Try to be too different and they'll pull you down.

I'm always careful to say that I changed everything I found.

Everyone saves someone at least once. Just as he kills someone at least once. Even though he may not know it.

People who say they're too busy to have lunch have a false impression of their own importance.

Politicians are like bad horsemen who are so preoccupied with staying in the saddle that they can't bother about where they're going.

He who defines his conduct by ethics imprisons his song-bird in a cage.

I think my story says that, when women are given the chance and the opportunity, that we can achieve a lot. We deliver.