Elon Musk Quotes
Innovation & the Future

"When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor."

— Elon Musk

"Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough."

— Elon Musk

"I think it's possible for ordinary people to choose to be extraordinary."

— Elon Musk

"Persistence is very important. You should not give up unless you are forced to give up."

— Elon Musk

"The first step is to establish that something is possible; then probability will occur."

— Elon Musk

"I could either watch it happen or be a part of it."

— Elon Musk

"If you get up in the morning and think the future is going to be better, it is a bright day."

— Elon Musk

"Some people don't like change, but you need to embrace change if the alternative is disaster."

— Elon Musk

"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact."

— Elon Musk

"Brand is just a perception, and perception will match reality over time."

— Elon Musk

"If something is important enough, even if the odds are stacked against you, you should still do it."

— Elon Musk

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

— Elon Musk

"It's OK to have your eggs in one basket as long as you control what happens to that basket."

— Elon Musk

"I think that's the single best piece of advice: constantly think about how you could be doing things better and questioning yourself."

— Elon Musk

"You want to be extra rigorous about making the best possible thing you can. Find everything that's wrong with it and fix it."

— Elon Musk

"Starting and growing a business is as much about the innovation, drive, and determination of the people behind it as the product they sell."

— Elon Musk

"If you need inspiration, don't do it."

— Elon Musk

"Great companies are built on great products."

— Elon Musk

"I don't create companies for the sake of creating companies, but to get things done."

— Elon Musk

"Work like hell. I mean you just have to put in 80 to 100 hour weeks every week. If other people are putting in 40 hour workweeks and you're putting in 100 hour workweeks, then even if you're doing the same thing, you know that you will achieve in four months what it takes them a year to achieve."

— Elon Musk

"I do think there is a lot of potential if you have a compelling product and people are willing to pay a premium for that."

— Elon Musk

"Really pay attention to negative feedback and solicit it, particularly from friends."

— Elon Musk

"The path to the CEO's office should not be through the CFO's office, and it should not be through the marketing department. It needs to be through engineering and design."

— Elon Musk

"People work better when they know what the goal is and why. It is important that people look forward to coming to work in the morning and enjoy working."

— Elon Musk

"I think it is possible for ordinary people to choose to be extraordinary."

— Elon Musk

"Going from PayPal, I thought: 'Well, what are some of the other problems that are likely to most affect the future of humanity?' Not from the perspective, 'What's the best way to make money?'"

— Elon Musk

"As much as possible, avoid hiring MBAs. MBA programs don't teach people how to create companies."

— Elon Musk

"I say something, and then it usually happens. Maybe not on schedule, but it usually happens."

— Elon Musk

"There have to be reasons that you get up in the morning and you want to live. Why do you want to live? What's the point? What inspires you? What do you love about the future?"

— Elon Musk

"Being an entrepreneur is like eating glass and staring into the abyss of death."

— Elon Musk