Naval Ravikant
born 1974
11 genuine quotes, each found in the text.
Indian-born American entrepreneur and investor, co-founder of AngelList, known for short aphorisms on wealth and happiness posted on Twitter/X and spoken on podcasts. Many circulate through The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, a compilation by Eric Jorgenson; he has called many of them notes to himself, made in a particular context.
EndpaperAn AI‑generated pattern made for this page, in the manner of minimalist graphic design (1965–present).
Genuine Ravikant quotes
- Not wanting something is as good as having it.
44 Harsh Truths About The Game Of Life (Modern Wisdom) (2025), Modern Wisdom podcast with Chris Williamson, 31 March 2025, at about 0:00:30–0:00:40.
- Desire is a contract you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want.
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant (2020), “Every Desire Is a Chosen Unhappiness”, paragraph beginning “Desire is a contract” (online edition).
- Earn with your mind, not your time.
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant (2020), “Find a Position of Leverage”, displayed aphorism before the real-estate example (online edition).
- Escape competition through authenticity.
How to Get Rich (without getting lucky) (2018), “The Internet Has Massively Broadened Career Possibilities”, nav.al/rich (Naval introducing his own tweet; Nivi reads it again under “Escape Competition Through Authenticity”).
- Forty hour work weeks are a relic of the Industrial Age. Knowledge workers function like athletes—train and sprint, then rest and reassess.
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant (2020), “Find a Position of Leverage”, displayed aphorism beginning “Forty hour work weeks” (online edition).
- Impatience with actions, patience with results.
How to Get Rich (without getting lucky) (2018), “Work As Hard As You Can”, subsection “Impatience with actions, patience with results”.
- Learn to sell, learn to build. If you can do both, you will be unstoppable.
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant (2020), “Find a Position of Leverage”, paragraph beginning “Learn to sell” (online edition).
- read what you love until you love to read.
How to Get Rich (without getting lucky) (2018), “Read What You Love Until You Love to Read”, Naval’s first answer, paragraph introducing the omitted tweet.
- Wealth is assets that earn while you sleep.
How to Get Rich (without getting lucky) (2018), “Seek Wealth, Not Money or Status”, nav.al/rich.
- When you’re finally wealthy, you’ll realize it wasn’t what you were seeking in the first place.
How to Get Rich (without getting lucky) (2018), “A Calm Mind, a Fit Body, a House Full of Love” (Nivi reading the last tweet), nav.al/rich, said by Nivi.
- You’re not going to get rich renting out your time.
How to Get Rich (without getting lucky) (2018), “You Won’t Get Rich Renting Out Your Time” (Nivi reading the tweet), nav.al/rich.
Paraphrased: Ravikant’s thought, in other words
- Play long-term games with long-term people.
Paraphrase. The idea is in How to Get Rich (without getting lucky) (2018), “Play Long-Term Games With Long-Term People”, nav.al/rich (Nivi reading the tweet), said by Nivi.
- Specific knowledge is knowledge you cannot be trained for.
Paraphrase. The idea is in How to Get Rich (without getting lucky) (2018), “Arm Yourself With Specific Knowledge” (subsection “Specific knowledge can’t be trained”), nav.al/rich.
The works we hold
Quotes are looked up word for word in these texts. The number is how many genuine quotes here come from each.
| Work | Year | Genuine quotes |
|---|---|---|
| How to Get Rich (without getting lucky) | 2018 | 6 |
| The Almanack of Naval Ravikant The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness | 2020 | 4 |
| 44 Harsh Truths About The Game Of Life (Modern Wisdom) 44 Harsh Truths About The Game Of Life | 2025 | 1 |