I think it's important to reason from first principles rather than by analogy. The normal way we conduct our lives is we reason by analogy. [With analogy] we are doing this because it's like something else that was done, or it is like what other people are doing. [With first principles] you boil things down to the most fundamental truths…and then reason up from there.

I started SpaceX with the expectation of failure.

Constantly seek criticism. A well thought out critique of what you're doing is as valuable as gold

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.

Some companies out there quote a start of production that is substantially in advance of when customers get their cars.

You could power the entire United States with about 150 to 200 square kilometers of solar panels, the entire United States. Take a corner of Utah... there's not much going on there, I've been there. There's not even radio stations.

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?'