Quotes from Richard Branson

In times of recession there are massive opportunities and fortunes to be made, so for new up and coming entrepreneurs, this is the time to go and start a business.

In 30 years time, as technology moves forward even further, people are going to look back and wonder why offices ever existed.

If you are a small company taking on a big company, you need to have a sense of humor.

My father Ted fought in North Africa, Italy, and Germany during World War II. My grandfather survived the horrors of the trenches in World War I. I truly believe that one of the E.U.'s greatest achievements is that it has kept its members out of conflict in Europe.

From my very first day as an entrepreneur, I've felt the only mission worth pursuing in business is to make people's lives better.

If you're looking to become an entrepreneur then don't waste your time going to university or business school - just get on and do it.

About 40 percent of my time is spent on social issues and building new organizations, more for the benefit of the climate or health issues.

We spend most of our lives working. So why do so few people have a good time doing it?

If people are jumping down people's throats all the time, in the end, they'll just shrivel up like a flower shrivels up that's not watered.

In Syria, if [Bashar al-] Assad had just been a statesman and handed over the reigns in time, Syria would not be heading down the nightmare that it is today.

In the '80's my gut feeling was that airlines were crap. I hated spending time on planes. I thought we could create the kind of airline I'd like. So we got a secondhand 747 and gave it a go.

I've always had a soft spot for dreamers – not those who waste their time thinking 'what if' but the ones who look to the sky and say 'why can't I shoot for the moon?'

I prefer to have a great time and to keep my wits about me.

It's obviously incredibly important to keep the body fit in order to keep the mind fit, and be able to find time for friends.

Avoid litigations. They are expensive and consume loads of time but if you have got a good case and a better chance of winning; then fight it out.

We [Virgin Group] have been successful not by wasting time scrutinising our competitors but by looking at ourselves from the point of view of our customers do and seeking feedback through listening.

If you don't enjoy it, don't do it. You must love what you do.

Can you imagine what a different world we will live in when businesses do what's right for the communities and the environment in everything they do?

On one of my last days at school, the headmaster said I would either end up in prison or become a millionaire. That was quite a startling prediction, but in some respects, he was right on both counts!

When exploring London, you will come across lots of excitement by chance, so try to take everything in rather than just rushing around to all of the major tourist haunts.

Space travel will be like every other business. There will be competitors. . . . Thirty months from now, I'm confident we'll be flying people into space.

Too many companies want their brands to reflect some idealised, perfected image of themselves. As a consequence, their brands acquire no texture, no character and no public trust.

I make up my mind about whether I can trust someone within 60 seconds of meeting them

Over the years I have found one of my best strengths is my ability to recognise talent and trust them.