Ask YC: what is your favorite startup related quote? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask YC: what is your favorite startup related quote?

#31

Post by kradic » Sun, Mar 16, 2008, 6:22 AM UTC

"Make something people want."

Re: Ask YC: what is your favorite startup related quote?

#32

Post by ca » Sun, Mar 16, 2008, 7:17 AM UTC

Randy Pausch (speaking of apparent barriers between you and your goals): "The wall is there for you to show how bad you want it."

(From his "Last Lecture", http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo)

Re: Ask YC: what is your favorite startup related quote?

#33

Post by SwellJoe » Sun, Mar 16, 2008, 8:33 AM UTC

alex_c wrote: post #28

I can't believe I'm quoting Donald Trump, but.. "If you're going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big."

This is in the same genre of something that a couple of old former oil field managers said to me once (after they had left the oil and gas industry to start a company doing water table analysis for municipal water supplies):

"You're going to bust your ass no matter what. You might as well bust your ass for $10 million instead of $10 thousand."

Re: Ask YC: what is your favorite startup related quote?

#34

Post by aditya » Sun, Mar 16, 2008, 9:34 AM UTC

"If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery (from http://workhappy.net)

Re: Ask YC: what is your favorite startup related quote?

#35

Post by codeLullaby » Sun, Mar 16, 2008, 10:02 AM UTC

'Do it Fu*king Now'

[http://seoblackhat.com/2007/01/29/do-it-fucking-now/]

Re: Ask YC: what is your favorite startup related quote?

#36

Post by nreece » Sun, Mar 16, 2008, 10:02 AM UTC

"Go the extra mile. It's never crowded."

Re: Ask YC: what is your favorite startup related quote?

#37

Post by oronno » Sun, Mar 16, 2008, 11:05 AM UTC

You cannot hide two things: 1. Talent 2. Itching

Re: Ask YC: what is your favorite startup related quote?

#38

Post by xirium » Sun, Mar 16, 2008, 1:01 PM UTC

Don't be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the ark and a large group of professionals built the Titanic.

Re: Ask YC: what is your favorite startup related quote?

#39

Post by BostonDave » Sun, Mar 16, 2008, 2:19 PM UTC

We're like _____ for _______. (comparison quote that almost guarantees failure)

Re: Ask YC: what is your favorite startup related quote?

#40

Post by fish » Sun, Mar 16, 2008, 3:06 PM UTC

"SPLIT YOUR LUNGS WITH BLOOD AND THUNDER! When you see the white whale! Break your backs and crack your oars, men! If you wish to prevail! This ivory leg is what propels me! Thrust your harpoons to the sky, Aim directly at his crooked brow, And look him straight in the eye! WHITE WHALE-- HOLY GRAIL!"

I took this quote to heart when I first read (guess what book) and it seems to apply to nearly every situation I've been in, somehow.