Quotes

I've always taken enormous inspiration in the lessons of others and this page is really a collection of wonderful quotes from many incredible leaders, mentors and people who have inspired me in many ways.

Ambition

“

Passion is the emotional fuel that drives your vision. It’s what you hold onto when your ideas are challenged and people turn you down, when you are rejected by experts and the people cloest to you. It’s the fuel that keeps you going, working hard, giving more than you can possibly give when there is simply no validation of your dream. Passions are irresistible. If you’re paying attention to your life at all, the things you are passionate about won’t leave you alone. They’re the ideas, hope and possibilities your mind gravitates to, the things you focus all your time, attention and dreams upon and nothing else but doing these things truly feels right.

”

Bill Stricklan

Values

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I was angered, for I had no shoes. Then I met a man who had no feet.

”

Chinese Proverb

Values

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Laws control the lesser man, right controls the greater.

”

Chinese Proverb

Life

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We all die, the point isn’t to live forever but to create something that will.

”

Chuck Palahniuk

Business

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Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you’re scared

”

Eddie Rickenbacker

Business

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Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you’re scared

”

Eddie Rickenbacker

Life

“

You have two ears and one mouth. Use them in proportion

”

Frank Charlton

Life

“

Try not to do too many things at once. Know what you want, the number one thing today and tomorrow. Persevere and get it done.

”

George Allen

Business

“

The competitor to be feared is one who never bothers about you at all, but goes on making his own business better all the time.

”

Henry Ford

Business

“

The competitor to be feared is one who never bothers about you at all, but goes on making his own business better all the time.

”

Henry Ford

Business

“

I wanted to project myself forward to age 80 and say, ‘Okay, now I'm looking back on my life’, I want to have minimized the number of regrets I have. I knew that when I was 80 I was not going to regret having tried this. I was not going to regret trying to participate in this thing called the Internet that I thought was going to be a really big deal. I knew that if I failed I wouldn't regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not ever having tried. I knew that that would haunt me every day, and so, when I thought about it that way it was an incredibly easy decision.

”

Jeff Bezos

Design

“

When we build, let us think we build forever. Let it not be for present delight or present use alone — but such that our descendants will thank us for.

”

John Ruskin

Ambition

“

Never underestimate the power of a small group of people to change the world. In fact, it is the only way it ever has.

”

Margaret Mead

Design

“

The things that separates us from the high primate is that we are tool builders, we make things. We make things that change our lives and we make things that change the world. This is a long, and long lasting tradition. We shape our tools and tools shape us.

”

Marshall McLuhan

“

Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

”

Martin Luther King, Jr

Business

“

You will face many defeats in your life, but never let yourself be defeated

”

Maya Angelou

Business

“

You will face many defeats in your life, but never let yourself be defeated

”

Maya Angelou

Business

“

You will face many defeats in your life, but never let yourself be defeated

”

Maya Angelou

Ambition

“

It always seems impossible until it's done.

”

Nelson Mandela

Design

“

Good artists copy, Great artists steal

”

Picassio

Business

“

Only those who dare to fail greatly can achieve greatly

”

Robert K. Kennedy

Business

“

Only those who dare to fail greatly can achieve greatly

”

Robert K. Kennedy

Business

“

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult

”

Seneca

Business

“

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult

”

Seneca

Life

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Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don't just give up.

”

Stephen Hawking

Business

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Try and fail, but don’t fail to try

”

Stephen Kaggwa

Business

“

Try and fail, but don’t fail to try

”

Stephen Kaggwa

Life

“

Death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.

”

Steve Jobs

Ambition

“

And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

”

Steve Jobs

Business

“

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

”

Theodore Roosevelt

Business

“

If you chase 2 rabbits, they’ll both get away

”

Unknown

Business

“

If you chase 2 rabbits, they’ll both get away

”

Unknown

Values

“

The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.

”

Unknown

Business

“

If you wouldn't work for them, don't work with them.

”

Unknown

Life

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Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man. Sooner or later the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.

”

Vince Lombardi

Business

“

Persistence matters when you have a dream

”

Vinod Kholsa

Business

“

Good is never good enough, and great is barely acceptable

”

Vinod Kholsa

Business

“

My willingness to fail, gives me the ability to succeed

”

Vinod Kholsa

Business

“

Good is never good enough, and great is barely acceptable

”

Vinod Kholsa

Business

“

My willingness to fail, gives me the ability to succeed

”

Vinod Khosla

Business

“

Persistence matters when you have a dream

”

Vinod Khosla

Design

“

I think we all have an idea, something that we want to make for no other reason other than for it to exist. Something small, but meaningful. To make something. Things that nudge the world a little bit, in what we hope is the right direction. We get to put a dint in the universe — no matter how small or insignificant. That is a wondering thing.

”

Wilson Milner

About ME

Tim Davis

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I am co-founder of Modular with Chris Lattner, along with an incredible team who is rebuilding AI infrastructure for the world. Love being a dad, running, startups, product management, leadership, being an Aussie and living in California.