“My mentality is that of a samurai. I would rather commit seppuku than fail.”

“I have made the mistaken assumption - and I will attempt to be better at this - of thinking that because somebody is on Twitter and is attacking me that it is open season. And that is my mistake.”

“I started SpaceX with the expectation of failure.”

“Even if producing CO2 was good for the environment, given that we're going to run out of hydrocarbons, we need to find some sustainable means of operating.”

“Optimism, pessimism, f**k that; we're going to make it happen. As God is my bloody witness, I'm hell-bent on making it work.”

“Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.”

“Honesty and integrity are by far the most important assets of an entrepreneur.”

“Your business is never really good or bad 'out there.' Your business is either good or bad right between your own two ears.”

“Difficulties exist to be surmounted.”

“The fears you don’t face control you. The fears you face, you move beyond.”

“As I look back at the entire tapestry of my life, I can see from the perspective of the present moment that every aspect of my life was necessary and perfect. Each step eventually led to a higher place, even though these steps often felt like obstacles or painful experiences.”

“He is not worthy of the honey-comb, that shuns the hives because the bees have stings.”

“Men that hazard allDo it in hope of fair advantages:A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross.”

“Were it goodTo set the exact wealth of all our statesAll at one cast? to set so rich a mainOn the nice hazard of one doubtful hour?It were not good.”