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."
"If you want a thing done well, do it yourself."
"You have to be willing to be misunderstood if you're going to do anything new."
"In war, the moral is to the physical as three to one."
"The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people. But because of the silence of the good people."
"People don't care about what you say, they care about what you build."
"The reason most people fail instead of succeed is they trade what they want most for what they want at the moment."
"Victory belongs to the most persevering."
"Done is better than perfect."
"Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide."
"Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in."
"The trick isn't adding stuff, it's taking away the things that don't matter."
"I may lose a battle, but I shall never lose a minute."
"A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights."
"Focusing on the mission is what allows us to make the long-term decisions that are right for the community."
"Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self-interest."
"Great men are meteors designed to burn so that earth may be lighted."
"Building a mission and building a business go hand-in-hand."
"The only thing I cannot recover is lost time."
"Public opinion is the thermometer a monarch should consult."
"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."
"I have no time to be a person of fashion."
"One jump ahead of the enemy is worth a thousand miles behind."
"The way that you get things done is by having a very clear sense of what you're trying to achieve."
"He who fears being conquered is certain of defeat."
"Space we can recover, time never."
Context
Source: Biography: Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte by Bourrienne
Related Themes
"Nothing influences people more than a recommendation from a trusted friend."
Context
Source: Interview: Y Combinator Interview with Sam Altman
Related Themes
"I am never so much a man as when I am in a state of crisis."
"The art of war is the art of time."
"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."
"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."
Context
Source: Biography: The Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte at St. Helena
Related Themes
"A leader is a dealer in hope."
"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."
"Strategy is the art of making use of time and space. I am less chary of the latter than the former."
Context
Source: Biography: Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte by Bourrienne
Related Themes
"The first virtue in a soldier is endurance of fatigue; courage is only the second."
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."
