Quotes from Pierre Omidyar

I'm a technologist by origin and by training, but I'm focused on philanthropy.

I have always been of the opinion that the right kind of journalism is a critical part of our democracy.

I do like to fly under the radar. When I walk around town, the only people I want to recognise me and call me by my name are the folks at Starbucks.

It is not really work if you are having fun.

You should pursue your passion. If you're passionate about something and you work hard, then I think you will be successful.

If you can get over this initial distrust that people have of strangers, you can do remarkable things.

Companies in Silicon Valley invest a lot in understanding their users and what drives user engagement.

You have to really believe in what you're doing, be passionate enough about it so that you will put in the hours and hard work that it takes to actually succeed there, and then you'll be successful.

Everyone is born equally capable but lacks equal opportunity.

You can invest in companies, you can help grow companies, you can be a venture capitalist - and be a philanthropist at the same time.

eBay's business is based on enabling someone to do business with another person, and to do that, they first have to develop some measure of trust, either in the other person or the system.

We ought to be looking at business as a force for good.

In the same way that you're driven in your business to keep innovating - Facebook is a wonderful example of constant innovation - think about doing that in philanthropy.

In 1991, I co-founded my first start-up, Ink Development, which made software for an early tablet computer.

My parents made me believe I could do anything I wanted to do. They were really into empowering me.