What is the most important thing you could be working on in the world right now? ... And if you're not working on that, why aren't you?

The adults were completely wrong.

Reality is painful -- it's so much easier to keep doing stuff you know you're good at or else to pick something so hard there's no point at which it's obvious you're failing -- but it's impossible to get better without confronting it.

Most people's major life changes don't come from reading an article in the newspaper; they come from reading longer-form essays or thoughtful books, which are much more convincing and detailed.

Information is power. But like all power, there are those who want to keep it for themselves.

Life is short ... so why waste it doing something dumb?

Being around some of the bright lights of the technology world and having them expect great things helps you sit down and do it seriously.