64 Elon Musk Quotes That Will Fire Up The Genius In Your Mind

Last updated on May 20, 2024

Elon Musk (born 28 June 1971, Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa) is a business magnate and investor. He is the founder, CEO and chief engineer of SpaceX; angel investor, CEO and product architect of Tesla, Inc.; owner and CEO of Twitter, Inc.; founder of The Boring Company; co-founder of Neuralink and OpenAI; and president of the philanthropic Musk Foundation. In December 2016, he was ranked 21st on the Forbes list of The World’s Most Powerful People. As of May 2019, he has a net worth of $20.1 Billion and is listed by Forbes as the 40th-richest person in the world.

23 Uplifting Famous Elon Musk Quotes About Life

When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor. ― Otto von Bismarck — When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.

love the thought of a car drifting apparently endlessly through space and perhaps being discovered by an alien race millions of years in the future. ― Otto von Bismarck — love the thought of a car drifting apparently endlessly through space and perhaps being discovered by an alien race millions of years in the future.

I think it is possible for ordinary people to choose to be extraordinary. ― Otto von Bismarck — I think it is possible for ordinary people to choose to be extraordinary.

I think it would be great to be born on Earth and die on Mars. Just hopefully not at the point of impact. ― Otto von Bismarck — I think it would be great to be born on Earth and die on Mars. Just hopefully not at the point of impact.

Persistence is very important. You should not give up unless you are forced to give up. ― Otto von Bismarck — Persistence is very important. You should not give up unless you are forced to give up.

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? If the future does not include being out there among the stars and being a multi-planet species, I find that incredibly depressing.
Elon Musk

The key test for an acronym is to ask whether it helps or hurts communication. ― Otto von Bismarck — The key test for an acronym is to ask whether it helps or hurts communication.

It’s OK to have your eggs in one basket as long as you control what happens to that basket. ― Otto von Bismarck — It’s OK to have your eggs in one basket as long as you control what happens to that basket.

Starting and growing a business is as much about the innovation, drive and determination of the people who do it as it is about the product they sell. ― Otto von Bismarck — Starting and growing a business is as much about the innovation, drive and determination of the people who do it as it is about the product they sell.

There’s a tremendous bias against taking risks. Everyone is trying to optimize their ass-covering. ― Otto von Bismarck — There’s a tremendous bias against taking risks. Everyone is trying to optimize their ass-covering.

It’s very important to like the people you work with, otherwise life & your job is gonna be quite miserable. ― Otto von Bismarck — It’s very important to like the people you work with, otherwise life & your job is gonna be quite miserable.

Don’t delude yourself into thinking something’s working when it’s not, or you’re gonna get fixated on a bad solution. ― Otto von Bismarck — Don’t delude yourself into thinking something’s working when it’s not, or you’re gonna get fixated on a bad solution.

I’m not trying to be anyone’s savior. I’m just trying to think about the future and not be sad. ― Otto von Bismarck — I’m not trying to be anyone’s savior. I’m just trying to think about the future and not be sad.

We’re going to make it happen. As God is my bloody witness, I’m hell-bent on making it work. ― Otto von Bismarck — We’re going to make it happen. As God is my bloody witness, I’m hell-bent on making it work.

People should pursue what they’re passionate about. That will make them happier than pretty much anything else. ― Otto von Bismarck — People should pursue what they’re passionate about. That will make them happier than pretty much anything else.

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. ― Otto von Bismarck — 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.

If you get up in the morning and think the future is going to be better, it is a bright day. Otherwise, it’s not. ― Otto von Bismarck — If you get up in the morning and think the future is going to be better, it is a bright day. Otherwise, it’s not.

Constantly think about how you could be doing things better. ― Otto von Bismarck — Constantly think about how you could be doing things better.

No, I don’t ever give up. I’d have to be dead or completely incapacitated. ― Otto von Bismarck — No, I don’t ever give up. I’d have to be dead or completely incapacitated.

Patience is a virtue, and I’m learning patience. It’s a tough lesson. ― Otto von Bismarck — Patience is a virtue, and I’m learning patience. It’s a tough lesson.

Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough. ― Otto von Bismarck — Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough.

I wouldn’t say I have a lack of fear. In fact, I’d like my fear emotion to be less because it’s very distracting and fries my nervous system. ― Otto von Bismarck — I wouldn’t say I have a lack of fear. In fact, I’d like my fear emotion to be less because it’s very distracting and fries my nervous system.

Life is too short for long-term grudges. ― Otto von Bismarck — Life is too short for long-term grudges.

9 Elon Musk Quotes on Education

I think college is basically for fun and to prove that you can do your chores, but they’re not for learning. ― Otto von Bismarck — I think college is basically for fun and to prove that you can do your chores, but they’re not for learning.

I take the position that I’m always to some degree wrong, and the aspiration is to be less wrong. ― Otto von Bismarck — I take the position that I’m always to some degree wrong, and the aspiration is to be less wrong.

As much as possible, avoid hiring MBAs. MBA programs don’t teach people how to create companies. ― Otto von Bismarck — As much as possible, avoid hiring MBAs. MBA programs don’t teach people how to create companies.

Contribute more than you consume. ― Otto von Bismarck — Contribute more than you consume.

Traditional schools are useless because they do not teach problem-solving and focus only on teaching about the tools needed to solve a problem. ― Otto von Bismarck — Traditional schools are useless because they do not teach problem-solving and focus only on teaching about the tools needed to solve a problem.

Evidence of exceptional ability. ― Otto von Bismarck — Evidence of exceptional ability.

Don’t confuse schooling with education. I didn’t go to Harvard but the people that work for me did. ― Otto von Bismarck — Don’t confuse schooling with education. I didn’t go to Harvard but the people that work for me did.

Talk to people from different walks of life and different industries and professions and skills. ― Otto von Bismarck — Talk to people from different walks of life and different industries and professions and skills.

There is no need even to have a college degree at all, or even high school. ― Otto von Bismarck — There is no need even to have a college degree at all, or even high school.

26 Elon Musk Quotes on Entrepreneurship, Technology and Business

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

It is important to view knowledge as sort of a semantic tree – make sure you understand the fundamental principles, ie the trunk and big branches, before you get into the leaves/details or there is nothing for them to hang on to.
Elon Musk

One of the biggest mistakes we made was trying to automate things that are super easy for a person to do, but super hard for a robot to do. ― Otto von Bismarck — One of the biggest mistakes we made was trying to automate things that are super easy for a person to do, but super hard for a robot to do.

Being an entrepreneur is like eating glass and staring into the abyss of death. ― Otto von Bismarck — Being an entrepreneur is like eating glass and staring into the abyss of death.

Constantly seek criticism. A well thought out critique of whatever you’re doing is as valuable as gold. ― Otto von Bismarck — Constantly seek criticism. A well thought out critique of whatever you’re doing is as valuable as gold.

Great companies are built on great products. ― Otto von Bismarck — Great companies are built on great products.

When Henry Ford made cheap, reliable cars, people said, ‘Nah, what’s wrong with a horse?’ That was a huge bet he made, and it worked. ― Otto von Bismarck — When Henry Ford made cheap, reliable cars, people said, ‘Nah, what’s wrong with a horse?’ That was a huge bet he made, and it worked.

Some people don’t like change, but you need to embrace change if the alternative is disaster. ― Otto von Bismarck — Some people don’t like change, but you need to embrace change if the alternative is disaster.

If something has to be designed and invented, and you have to figure out how to ensure that the value of the thing you create is greater than the cost of the inputs, then that is probably my core skill. ― Otto von Bismarck — If something has to be designed and invented, and you have to figure out how to ensure that the value of the thing you create is greater than the cost of the inputs, then that is probably my core skill.

There are really two things that have to occur in order for a new technology to be affordable to the mass market. One is you need economies of scale. The other is you need to iterate on the design. You need to go through a few versions. ― Otto von Bismarck — There are really two things that have to occur in order for a new technology to be affordable to the mass market. One is you need economies of scale. The other is you need to iterate on the design. You need to go through a few versions.

If there was a way that I could not eat, so I could work more, I would not eat. I wish there was a way to get nutrients without sitting down for a meal. ― Otto von Bismarck — If there was a way that I could not eat, so I could work more, I would not eat. I wish there was a way to get nutrients without sitting down for a meal.

You want to have a future where you’re expecting things to be better, not one where you’re expecting things to be worse. ― Otto von Bismarck — You want to have a future where you’re expecting things to be better, not one where you’re expecting things to be worse.

The first step is to establish that something is possible; then probability will occur. ― Otto von Bismarck — The first step is to establish that something is possible; then probability will occur.

My proceeds from the PayPal acquisition were $180 million. I put $100 million in SpaceX, $70m in Tesla, and $10m in Solar City. I had to borrow money for rent. ― Otto von Bismarck — My proceeds from the PayPal acquisition were $180 million. I put $100 million in SpaceX, $70m in Tesla, and $10m in Solar City. I had to borrow money for rent.

Any product that needs a manual to work is broken. ― Otto von Bismarck — Any product that needs a manual to work is broken.

When somebody has a breakthrough innovation, it is rarely one little thing. Very rarely, is it one little thing. It’s usually a whole bunch of things that collectively amount to a huge innovation. ― Otto von Bismarck — When somebody has a breakthrough innovation, it is rarely one little thing. Very rarely, is it one little thing. It’s usually a whole bunch of things that collectively amount to a huge innovation.

I think it’s very important to have a feedback loop, where you’re constantly thinking about what you’ve done and how you could be doing it better. ― Otto von Bismarck — I think it’s very important to have a feedback loop, where you’re constantly thinking about what you’ve done and how you could be doing it better.

You get paid in direct proportion to the difficulty of problems you solve. ― Otto von Bismarck — You get paid in direct proportion to the difficulty of problems you solve.

If you need inspiration, don’t do it. ― Otto von Bismarck — If you need inspiration, don’t do it.

You should take the approach that you’re wrong. Your goal is to be less wrong. ― Otto von Bismarck — You should take the approach that you’re wrong. Your goal is to be less wrong.

I could either watch it happen or be a part of it. ― Otto von Bismarck — I could either watch it happen or be a part of it.

Really, the only thing that makes sense is to strive for greater collective enlightenment. ― Otto von Bismarck — Really, the only thing that makes sense is to strive for greater collective enlightenment.

I don’t spend my time pontificating about high-concept things; I spend my time solving engineering and manufacturing problems. ― Otto von Bismarck — I don’t spend my time pontificating about high-concept things; I spend my time solving engineering and manufacturing problems.

Work like hell. I mean you just have to put in 80 to 100 hour weeks every week. This improves the odds of success. ― Otto von Bismarck — Work like hell. I mean you just have to put in 80 to 100 hour weeks every week. This improves the odds of success.

If you go back a few hundred years, what we take for granted today would seem like magic-being able to talk to people over long distances, to transmit images, flying, accessing vast amounts of data like an oracle. These are all things that would have been considered magic a few hundred years ago.
Elon Musk

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. Just see if you can sell that to real customers and start generating some momentum. The further along you can get with that, the more likely you are to get funding.
Elon Musk

6 Elon Musk Quotes on Cryptocurrency

The only thing I own of any significance beyond Tesla and SpaceX stock is Bitcoin, and then some Ethereum and Dogecoin. ― Otto von Bismarck — The only thing I own of any significance beyond Tesla and SpaceX stock is Bitcoin, and then some Ethereum and Dogecoin.

It looks likeBitcoin is shifting more towards renewable… There is a trend towards more than 50% renewables. In that case, Tesla would resume accepting Bitcoin, Most likely. ― Otto von Bismarck — It looks likeBitcoin is shifting more towards renewable… There is a trend towards more than 50% renewables. In that case, Tesla would resume accepting Bitcoin, Most likely.

One idea would be to put a bitcoin node in SpaceX Starlink terminals, so that way more people would be running bitcoin. ― Otto von Bismarck — One idea would be to put a bitcoin node in SpaceX Starlink terminals, so that way more people would be running bitcoin.

I might pump, but I don’t dump… We are not selling any Bitcoin. ― Otto von Bismarck — I might pump, but I don’t dump… We are not selling any Bitcoin.

On balance I support bitcoin and cryptocurrency in general. ― Otto von Bismarck — On balance I support bitcoin and cryptocurrency in general.

Bitcoin will be more environmentally friendly than gold mining or the traditional financial system. ― Otto von Bismarck — Bitcoin will be more environmentally friendly than gold mining or the traditional financial system.