In economic terms, we've always thought of work as a disutility - as something you do to get something else. Now it's increasingly a utility - something that's valuable and worthy in its own right.

The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very different kind of mind - creators and empathizers, pattern recognizers and meaning makers.

The three things that motivate creative people - autonomy, mastery, purpose!

Control leads to compliance; autonomy leads to engagement.

Asking "Why?" can lead to understanding. Asking "Why not?" can lead to breakthroughs.

Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve more and live richer lives.

All of us want to be part of something bigger than ourselves, something that matters.

The misuse of extrinsic rewards, so common in business, impedes creativity, stifles personal satisfaction and turns play into work.

Greatness and nearsightedness are incompatible. Meaningful achievement depends on lifting one's sights and pushing toward the horizon.

Do what you can't and experience the beauty of the mistakes you make.

In many professions, what used to matter most were abilities associated with the left side of the brain: linear, sequential, spreadsheet kind of faculties. Those still matter, but they're not enough.

Never allow anyone to break your bond of love.

Some people carry their hearts in their heads; very many carry their heads in their hearts. The difficulty is to keep them apart, yet both actively working together.

Some of the best advice I've had comes from junior officers and enlisted men.

I think we will begin to see some real efforts made to do things like protecting Social Security and Medicare.

Theory looks well on paper, but does not amount to anything without practice.

Mostly, though, I dream of good things...I dream that flowers will bloom in the streets..again and music will play in the...houses and kites will fly in the skies.

Quality... you know what it is, yet you don't know what it is.

I'm making the assumption that after Mrs. Obama leaves the White House that she will continue all of her work toward improving education in this nation and childhood health.

People who know what they’re talking about don’t need PowerPoint.