Better to fail spectacularly than do something mediocre.

Anything is possible, and that’s something we should not lose sight of. The inspiration and the permission to dream is huge.

Engineering isn't about perfect solutions; it's about doing the best you can with limited resources.

Sometimes all you have to do is ask, and it can lead to all your dreams coming true.

Randy Pausch on time management: Here's what I know: Time must be explicitly managed, like money. You can always change your plan, but only if you have one. Ask yourself: Are you spending your time on the right things? Develop a good filing system. Rethink the telephone. Delegate. Take a time out. Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less than you think.

To be cliché, death is a part of life and it's going to happen to all of us. I have the blessing of getting a little bit of advance notice and I am able to optimize my use of time down the home stretch.

You will need to find your passion. Don't give up on finding it because then all you're doing is waiting for the Reaper.