Skip to content

I get a lot of criticism for telling founders to focus…

“I get a lot of criticism for telling founders to focus first on making something great, instead of worrying about how to make money. And yet that is exactly what Google did. And Apple, for that matter. You'd think examples like that would be enough to convince people.” quote by Paul Graham
Download Open image
“I get a lot of criticism for telling founders to focus first on making something great, instead of worrying about how to make money. And yet that is exactly what Google did. And Apple, for that matter. You'd think examples like that would be enough to convince people.”

Paul Graham

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Founders should prioritize creating something excellent before worrying about profit; success stories like Google and Apple support this.

In simple terms: Focus on quality first, money later.

Key Takeaway

Build great products before monetizing.

Themes

entrepreneurship quality profit strategy

Mood

practical motivational

Type

advice inspirational

When to use this quote

  • launching a startup
  • seeking investors
  • product design

Key Concepts

startup product development market fit

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can founders balance quality and revenue?
  • When is it right to shift focus to monetization?
A Different Perspective

Profit pressure can distract from quality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Paul Graham

Explore all 94 Paul Graham quotes

More About quotes

Browse all 26,122 About quotes