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Time Management Quotes

Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder and CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook), represents the quintessential modern engineer-turned-mogul of the 21st century. Rising from a Harvard dorm room to lead one of the most influential technology conglomerates in history, Zuckerberg’s approach to time management is rooted in the silicon valley ethos of 'optimization. ' Unlike traditional executives who focus on administrative scheduling, Zuckerberg’s philosophy centers on the elimination of 'frictional' decisions—most famously evidenced by his signature gray t-shirt uniform—to preserve mental energy for high-leverage product decisions. His career is defined by the 'Move Fast' mantra, a radical prioritization of speed and iteration over the paralysis of perfection.

"Everything in war is a matter of time."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Letter: To General Berthier, 1805

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"If you want a thing done well, do it yourself."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Letter: To the Directory (1797)

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"You have to be willing to be misunderstood if you're going to do anything new."
Mark Zuckerberg
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Source: Interview: Axel Springer Award

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"In war, the moral is to the physical as three to one."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Letter: To the Minister of War, 1808

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"The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people. But because of the silence of the good people."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Book: Napoleon's Letters

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"People don't care about what you say, they care about what you build."
Mark Zuckerberg
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Source: Interview: ABC News Interview (2010)

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"The reason most people fail instead of succeed is they trade what they want most for what they want at the moment."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Inspired by: The Maxims of Napoleon

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"Victory belongs to the most persevering."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Book: The Military Maxims of Napoleon

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"Done is better than perfect."
Mark Zuckerberg
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Source: Letter: 2012 S-1 Filing to Investors

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"Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Letter: To Minister of War (1809)

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"Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Book: The Maxims of Napoleon

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"The trick isn't adding stuff, it's taking away the things that don't matter."
Mark Zuckerberg
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Source: Interview: Wired Magazine

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"I may lose a battle, but I shall never lose a minute."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Letter: Correspondence of Napoleon I

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"A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Book: The Memorial of Saint Helena

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"Focusing on the mission is what allows us to make the long-term decisions that are right for the community."
Mark Zuckerberg
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Source: Letter: 2012 S-1 Letter to Shareholders

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"Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self-interest."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Book: Mémorial de Sainte Hélène

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"Great men are meteors designed to burn so that earth may be lighted."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Book: Political Aphorisms and Maxims

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"Building a mission and building a business go hand-in-hand."
Mark Zuckerberg
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Source: Letter: 2012 S-1 Filing to Investors

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"The only thing I cannot recover is lost time."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Biography: Napoleon by Andrew Roberts

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"Public opinion is the thermometer a monarch should consult."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Autobiography: Napoleon's Memoirs

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"I think a simple rule of business is, if you do the things that are easier first, then you can actually make a lot of progress."
Mark Zuckerberg
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Source: Interview: PBS Charlie Rose Interview

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"I have no time to be a person of fashion."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Biography: The Life of Napoleon by William Hazlitt

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"One jump ahead of the enemy is worth a thousand miles behind."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Letter: To General Grouchy

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"The way that you get things done is by having a very clear sense of what you're trying to achieve."
Mark Zuckerberg
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Source: Lecture: Stanford University Class

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"He who fears being conquered is certain of defeat."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Biography: Napoleon in Exile by Barry O'Meara

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"Space we can recover, time never."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Biography: Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte by Bourrienne

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"Nothing influences people more than a recommendation from a trusted friend."
Mark Zuckerberg
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Source: Interview: Y Combinator Interview with Sam Altman

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"I am never so much a man as when I am in a state of crisis."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Biography: Napoleon by Andrew Roberts

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"The art of war is the art of time."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Book: The Military Maxims of Napoleon

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"The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that's changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks."
Mark Zuckerberg
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Source: Interview: Startup School at Y Combinator

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"To do all that one is able to do, is to be a man; to do all that one would like to do, is to be a god."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Biography: The Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte at St. Helena

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"A leader is a dealer in hope."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Book: Maxims and Opinions of Napoleon

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"Purpose is that sense that we are part of something bigger than ourselves, that we are needed, that we have something better ahead to work for."
Mark Zuckerberg
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Source: Speech: Harvard Commencement 2017

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"Strategy is the art of making use of time and space. I am less chary of the latter than the former."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Biography: Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte by Bourrienne

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"The first virtue in a soldier is endurance of fatigue; courage is only the second."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Source: Book: The Military Maxims of Napoleon

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Why these quotes matter

Zuckerberg’s contributions to productivity revolve around the concept of 'ruthless prioritization' and the belief that speed is the best defense against obsolescence. His philosophy emphasizes that in a rapidly shifting digital landscape, the opportunity cost of delay is far greater than the cost of making minor mistakes through rapid execution.

How to apply them daily

To apply Zuckerberg’s teachings, one should identify the 'most important thing' each day and eliminate secondary decisions that cause cognitive fatigue. Embracing the 'done is better than perfect' mindset allows for faster feedback loops and more efficient progress toward long-term goals.

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"Ultimately, Zuckerberg teaches us that the greatest leverage in life comes from aligning every hour with a singular, clear mission while having the courage to ignore everything else."