From success, you learn absolutely nothing. From failure and setbacks conclusions can be drawn. That goes for your private life as well as your career.
A lot of people criticize Formula 1 as an unnecessary risk. But what would life be like if we only did what is necessary?
Happiness is an enemy. It weakens you. Suddenly, you have something to lose.
A race isn't won until it's over.
Don't talk too much, be focused on the goal and achieve it.
Really, you should always discuss the defeats because you can learn much more from failure than from success.
I've been through a lot and I realise the future can't be controlled. I'm not worried. You can always learn to overcome difficulties.
The less you talk, the more time you have for the essential things.
Whenever I see something that challenges me, I take it on.
To make a decision you need to be in a perfect environment: you have to be motivated and surrounded by the right people.
Giving up is something a Lauda doesn't do.
You must always be faster and better than the others.
You appreciate that it is very easy to die and you have to arrange your life to cope with that reality.
You must always aim for further growth.
You have a brake in your brain that stops you doing stupid things. The older you are, the earlier that brake comes on. When you're 20 you stop at nothing; when you're older you're cleverer than when you're 20, so your brain brake operates more often!
To be honest, it is boring to talk about winning.
Whenever there is discussion, I make it clear that I do not want any grey zones, just black and white.
I was not interested at all in Formula One when I left; I was very busy with my airline. But slowly I started missing the adrenaline rush and the driving of such fantastic cars at the limit. In reality this urge never disappears when you're a top driver, because I think we're a different breed of people, we need to take chances, we need to push ourselves to the limit all the time, that sort of thing. It stays with you, although you can kill it by losing motivation or other things in your life, but it never leaves you forever.
If you are a straightforward racing driver you should always see your limits. You have to be objective and not come up with any bullshit.
When you have the chance to fight for victory or a podium finish, you have the motivation to push that extra bit out of yourself.
I maintain that the maxim is still to be faster than the others.
I see myself as the mind of the business which takes care of every last detail; if you do not do this you cannot be fast enough.
Taking your first title is much more complicated and more difficult; it takes years of work - from go-kart to Formula One. The second comes more easily, because you've already got the experience.
Jean Todt's system will never succeed, not even with Michael Schumacher.
I always go extreme ways.
