Yuri Milner Quotes

Powerful Yuri Milner for Daily Growth

About Yuri Milner

Yuri Milner, a Russian-American physicist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, is renowned for his contributions to science, technology, and philanthropy. Born on September 12, 1961, in Moscow, Russia, Milner showed an early aptitude for mathematics and physics. He earned his Ph.D. in physics from the Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics in 1987. Milner's career took a significant turn when he immigrated to the United States in 1989. He co-founded DigitalGlobe, a company that provides satellite imagery, and later invested in companies like Facebook, Twitter, Zynga, and Groupon through his venture capital firm DST Global. In the realm of science, Milner is best known for the Breakthrough Prize, an annual award given to recognize achievements in the fields of mathematics, physics, life sciences, and fundamental research. He founded the Breakthrough Initiatives in 2015, a collection of scientific projects with the goal of finding extraterrestrial life and studying the universe. Milner's influences are rooted in his love for science and technology. His work reflects his belief in the transformative power of these fields and their potential to address some of humanity's most pressing issues. He is a firm advocate for scientific research and has been involved in various initiatives aimed at promoting STEM education. Milner's life and works encapsulate the spirit of innovation, philanthropy, and the pursuit of knowledge, making him an influential figure in both the tech industry and the world of science. Quotes by Yuri Milner often reflect his optimistic outlook on the future, with statements like, "We live in a very exciting time when we have the means to really change the world."

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Science is a powerful engine for change."

This quote emphasizes the transformative potential of science. It suggests that science, with its rigorous methods and pursuit of truth, has the ability to drive significant changes in our world, whether it's advancing technology, addressing societal challenges, or broadening our understanding of the universe. The engine metaphor implies a consistent force propelling progress. In essence, Yuri Milner is reminding us that science, when harnessed effectively, can catalyze transformative change in various aspects of life and society.


"Technology can be both a blessing and a curse, but its ultimate impact will depend on us – on whether we use it wisely or squander its potential."

This quote emphasizes that technology, while holding immense power for good, is neutral by nature. Its effects are determined by humans. If we choose to harness it wisely and responsibly, it can be a blessing, driving progress and solving problems. However, if misused or neglected, technology has the potential to cause harm and squander its tremendous possibilities. Thus, the message is about the critical role of humanity in shaping technology's ultimate impact on our world.


"The universe is full of mysteries, and it's our job as humans to explore them."

This quote emphasizes the human spirit of curiosity and exploration. It suggests that the vast, enigmatic universe around us contains many unsolved puzzles and secrets, and it encourages humankind to strive towards understanding these mysteries through scientific inquiry and technological advancement. The goal is not just to gain knowledge, but also to broaden our horizons, push the boundaries of what we know, and ultimately, expand our understanding of our place in the universe.


"We have the opportunity – and the responsibility – to shape a future that is safe and beneficial for all humanity."

This quote emphasizes the dual nature of our technological progress. While we possess the ability to create advancements that could significantly improve human life, we also hold the power to potentially endanger or harm it. The responsibility lies in ensuring these advancements are used for the betterment of all humanity, fostering a safe and beneficial future for everyone, rather than merely a select few. It's a call to action for ethical leadership, cooperation, and careful consideration as we navigate the future with technology at our fingertips.


"Science and technology have transformed our world in ways we could hardly have imagined just a few decades ago. But they also hold the key to solving some of the most pressing problems we face today, from climate change to global health crises."

Yuri Milner's quote underscores the transformative power of science and technology in shaping our world, as well as their potential role in addressing pressing global issues such as climate change and health crises. This suggests that by harnessing scientific knowledge and technological advancements, we can innovate solutions to address complex problems and ensure a sustainable future for humanity.


I'm just focused on exploring new opportunities.

- Yuri Milner

Exploring, New, Focused, New Opportunities

I think top scientists need to be compensated at a different scale in society. Somebody with experience will tell you that true scientists are not motivated by money - they are motivated by the quest itself. That is true. But I think an additional recognition will not hurt.

- Yuri Milner

Think, Motivated, I Think, Hurt

I must analyze, from what I do now, what will be the impact two or three or five years in the future. What is the statement I want to make?

- Yuri Milner

Impact, Want, Will, Analyze

The largest newspaper in the United States is only reaching 1 percent of population. We are kind of assuming that 'Wall Street Journal,' 'USA Today,' and other newspapers are very important. Yes, they're extremely important, but only to 1 percent of the population on a daily basis.

- Yuri Milner

Newspaper, Very, Largest, Journal

Story was that human civilization started to develop with first social network. Emerged where population concentration was high. Helped propel to where we are now. Facebook is next step of creating a huge human brain to embrace hundreds of million, possibly billions of people.

- Yuri Milner

Civilization, Next, Emerged, Human Brain

You know among people who kind of travel a lot and have exposure to the United States and some other countries, they do have accounts, but you know, Russia is not exactly the place with multiple language skills so local networks kind of have an edge.

- Yuri Milner

Some, Other, United, Accounts

Big Internet companies on average are capable of generating revenue of $1 million per employee, and that compares to 10 to 20 percent of that which is normally generated by traditional offline businesses of comparable size.

- Yuri Milner

Big, Average, Which, Normally

I have this ratio that if you divide age of entrepreneur by market cap of company. For Facebook it's one. Every year of his life Zuckerberg has been making $1 billion for investors.

- Yuri Milner

Year, Making, Been, Entrepreneur

It is hard to think of practical applications of the black hole. Because practical applications are so remote, many people assume we should not be interested. But this quest to understand the world is what defines us as human beings.

- Yuri Milner

Quest, Defines, Remote, Assume

When you have a few billion people connected with screens, not voice... screens are important. You can transmit a thousand times more information.

- Yuri Milner

Voice, More, Transmit, Screens

We monitor close to 50 companies globally that can be potential investment opportunities. I'd like to see DST as a significant global investment company in the Internet arena.

- Yuri Milner

Investment, Like, Globally, Monitor

Russia is one of the places where significant presence of social networks are driven by domestic players right now.

- Yuri Milner

Social, Social Networks, Presence

The company that creates one global social graph will be very important going forward. It will be Facebook, with maybe 2-3 local social networks able to sustain competition long term.

- Yuri Milner

Will, Very, Social Networks, Sustain

I am not an oligarch. I am a servant and I try to align my interests and those of my investors.

- Yuri Milner

I Am, Try, Servant, Align

I have invested in four social networks. More than any other. But that's in Russia and Poland.

- Yuri Milner

More, Other, Social Networks, Invested

I have invested in four social networks. More than any other.

- Yuri Milner

Other, Four, Social Networks, Invested

One of the companies that we've invested in is called Facebook. In only two years, between 2009 and 2011, the information exchanged between people increased 28 times. And that cannot be explained by new people joining Facebook.

- Yuri Milner

New, New People, Joining, Invested

Facebook is at the forefront. It's the company that can fundamentally change the way information is being exchanged and processed. It can be the basis for artificial intelligence to develop over time.

- Yuri Milner

Change, Facebook, Over, Forefront

It's not about revenues: The fundamental economics in digital business is scale and margins. The top line has become the bottom line.

- Yuri Milner

Business, Digital, Margins, Revenues

Facebook can be an accumulation of different intelligences. Ask a question, translated into many languages and somebody, somewhere in the world, will have an answer.

- Yuri Milner

Question, Will, Languages, Translated

There is a significant momentum behind the social Internet. A wide range of public investors were very enthusiastic about that.

- Yuri Milner

Behind, Very, Wide Range, Enthusiastic

It's not how much something's worth today, it's what it's worth in five or 10 years.

- Yuri Milner

Today, How, How Much, Five

Kai-Fu's Innovation Works is the top very-early-stage fund in China. We are proud to be an investor, and hope that IW will help to produce in China companies on the scale of Facebook, Zynga, or Groupon.

- Yuri Milner

Innovation, Proud, Works, Investor

Facebook can be an accumulation of different intelligences.

- Yuri Milner

Different, Facebook, Accumulate

The problem is that modern fundamental physics is so far from you and me. The mathematics has become so much more complicated that you need at least 10 years to understand it. Fundamental physics has advanced so far from the understanding of most people that there is really a big disconnect.

- Yuri Milner

Mathematics, Big, Disconnect, Physics

My background is in theoretical physics, and it's something very close to my heart.

- Yuri Milner

Very, Theoretical, Physics

Fundamental physics is like an art more or less. It's completely non-practical, and you can't use it for anything. But it's about the universe and how the world came into being. It's very remote from your daily life and mine, and yet it defines us as human beings.

- Yuri Milner

Very, Use, About, Physics

Science is one of a handful of things that defines us as a very special species. It is amazing how far we have been able to get and how accurate our predictions are. I think understanding how the universe was born is very important. It really gives us a perspective on many things.

- Yuri Milner

Been, I Think, Very, Defines

We've only made three investments: Facebook, Groupon, and Zynga.

- Yuri Milner

Facebook, Only, Made, Investments

Social is a better way to interact with digital world. It is better than search. Implications for... everything. Total change.

- Yuri Milner

Digital, Social, Better Way, Implications

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