Geoff Mulgan Quotes - Page 2

Systems governed by only one set of rules are more vulnerable than those with variety.

L'Oreal's slogan 'because you're worth it' has come to epitomise banal narcissism of early 21st century capitalism; easy indulgence and effortless self-love all available at a flick of the credit card.

Spreading an idea is hard work.

Economies are complex beasts that need people to do an extraordinary range of tasks.

The wrongful arrest of tens of thousands of British Muslims after the September 11 attacks can be explained by the very poor intelligence the police had, and, just possibly, excused by the fact that a terrorist action in Britain linked to British Muslims would have been hugely damaging.

In Britain, polls show large majorities in favour of mansion taxes and higher taxes on the finance sector.

I didn't much like being in Parliament physically. I found it a bit depressing. It's very dark and heavy. I like being out and about.

Advisers who think that they are very clever while all around them are a bit thick, and that all the problems of the world would be solved if the thick listened to the clever, are liable to be disappointed.

I can think of nothing worse than a think-tank where everybody agreed.

Huge sums are invested globally in medical research and development - and with good reason.

Learning isn't something you should only do solo.

The longer you commute the less happy you're likely to be.

Adelaide is becoming a hub for higher education.

All real capitalisms are impure hybrids, mongrels mixed with other strains.

As with products on supermarket shelves, the public has a right to know where their financial products and services come from.

Young people who were relaxed about posting every detail of their life on Facebook become a lot less relaxed when they realise just how transparent their life has become to future employers.

The central position of finance capital is going to come to an end, and it's going to steadily move to the sides, the margins of our society, transformed from being a master into a servant, a servant to the productive economy and of human needs.

I'm not saying [economic] growth is wrong, but throughout the years of growth, many things didn't get better. ... If you look at America, the proportion of Americans with no one to talk to about important things went up from a tenth to a quarter.

It's an irony that growing inequality could mean more money for philanthropy. In the US, quite a few of the ultra-rich have taken to heart the 19th century industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie's comment that it's a disgrace to die wealthy.

A lot of people in government don't really read books at all.

Deeper fulfilment is rather different from the happiness of seeing a good film or watching your team win at football, and it doesn't come at the push of a button.

One effect of an individualistic culture that's poor at instilling mutual respect is that people jump more quickly to anger or violence.

The City of London has never been known for understanding technology and has never matched Silicon Valley's tradition of knowledgeable investment in technology start-ups, just as the U.K. government has never matched the vast investment made by the U.S. government.

There is incredible potential for digital technology in and beyond the classroom, but it is vital to rethink how learning is organised if we are to reap the rewards.

Britain is rich in radicalism, and anyone who says that our society has drifted into fatalism and apathy should get out more.