Any book that was required reading in an English class has been thereby spoilt for me. This is not true for classes in other subjects though. - Paul Graham

Now that I've been through being a kid, growing up, and then having kids, it's clear that the main thing that differentiates people is simply whether they make an effort. Whether they're content to drift along with the current, or whether they try to swim.

You are far more dangerous to your startup than competitors are. A hundred times more startups die from poor execution by their founders than are killed by competitors.

and for the same reason, as a bunch of guys who get together to go hunting. They don’t actually hate you. They just need something to chase.