Quotes by Elon Musk

I always have optimism, but I'm realistic. It was not with the expectation of great success that I started Tesla or SpaceX... It's just that I thought they were important enough to do anyway.

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

I'm not trying to be anyone's savior. I'm just trying to think about the future and not be sad.

I think we have a duty to maintain the light of consciousness to make sure it continues into the future.

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

Really, the only thing that makes sense is to strive for greater collective enlightenment.

The probability of success is difficult to estimate; but if we never search, the chance of success is zero.

The most important thing for an entrepreneur is to be able to take risks, and to know how to manage them.

If you’re co-founder or CEO, you have to do all kinds of tasks you might not want to do… If you don’t do your chores, the company won’t succeed.

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

I'd say I'm pretty driven. I would like to be doing new things and doing useful things.

The goal of Tesla is to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport.

Great companies are built on great products.

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.

I don't think it's a good idea to plan to sell a company.

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

I would like to be on the beach on some remote island with no communications to anyone.

I think the value of beauty and inspiration is very much underrated, no question.

The key to making things affordable is design and volume. That’s the magic formula.

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

I think the high-order bit is making great products. That is, sort of, the heart of what we do.

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

I think the best way to attract venture capital is to try and come up with a demonstration of whatever product or service it is and ideally take that as far as you can.

I think life on Earth must be about more than just solving problems. It’s got to be something inspiring, even if it is vicarious.

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

It's important to have a long-term vision of the future that is so appealing that it will make you want to get up in the morning.

Work like hell. I mean it. Work like hell.

The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

If I had to summarize in one sentence what I do at Tesla and SpaceX, it's 'make life multiplanetary.'

If you're not failing at something, you're not innovating enough.

I think it is possible for ordinary people to achieve extraordinary things, but it takes hard work and perseverance.

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

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

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