--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Facebook first started, and it was…" description: "\"When Facebook first started, and it was just a social directory for undergrads at Harvard, it would have seemed like such a bad startup idea, like some..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/paul-graham-7010_bad_when-facebook-first-started-and-it-was-j_1451986.jpg" --- # When Facebook first started, and it was just a social… ![“When Facebook first started, and it was just a social directory for undergrads at Harvard, it would have seemed like such a bad startup idea, like some student side project.” quote by Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/paul-graham-7010_bad_when-facebook-first-started-and-it-was-j_1451986.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/paul-graham-7010_bad_when-facebook-first-started-and-it-was-j_1451986.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/paul-graham-7010_bad_when-facebook-first-started-and-it-was-j_1451986.jpg) > “When Facebook first started, and it was just a social directory for undergrads at Harvard, it would have seemed like such a bad startup idea, like some student side project.” [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. Early Facebook seemed like a weak idea but grew into a major platform. **In simple terms:** What looks bad at first can become huge. Key Takeaway Don’t dismiss ideas that seem modest. Themes innovation startup perception Mood optimistic analytical Type business philosophical When to use this quote - college projects - early-stage startups - tech incubators Key Concepts risk assessment visionary thinking Questions to Reflect On - What makes a bad idea succeed? - How to spot hidden potential? A Different Perspective Early failures don’t guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Bad Startup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-startup-5224449/) [Entrepreneurship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneurship/) [Facebook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facebook/) [Facebook Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facebook-started-2733956/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Harvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvard/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Project](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/project/) [Seemed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seemed/) [Side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/side/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Some](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/some/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Startup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/startup/) [Startup Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/startup-idea-2510628/) [Student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/student/) [Twitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twitter/) [Undergrads Harvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undergrads-harvard-5224450/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) ## Related quotes > [“The classic sign of a shitty startup idea is that it requires at least two (or more!) miracles to succeed. This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-garcia-martinez/the-classic-sign-of-a-shitty-startup-idea-is-that-it-requires-at/) [Antonio Garcia Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-garcia-martinez/) > [I've always liked the fact that anyone with a great idea, access to the Internet, and an unrelenting will can spark a world-beating company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/i-ve-always-liked-the-fact-that-anyone-with-a-great-idea-access-to/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [“You need three things to create a successful startup: to start with good people, to make something customers actually want, and to spend as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/you-need-three-things-to-create-a-successful-startup-to-start-with/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [Like having a child, running a startup is the sort of experience that's hard to imagine unless you've done it yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/like-having-a-child-running-a-startup-is-the-sort-of-experience-that/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [In the startup world, 'not working' is normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/in-the-startup-world-not-working-is-normal/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [Like a lot of other DJs, I've been wondering when the first DJ game was going to happen. Somebody even pitched me on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-shadow/like-a-lot-of-other-djs-i-ve-been-wondering-when-the-first-dj-game/) [DJ Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-shadow/) > [“describes how in 1999 he and some friends founded his first startup, Epinions, a website for consumer reviews. They had to raise $8m”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/describes-how-in-1999-he-and-some-friends-founded-his-first-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Separation, I think, in an early-stage company or a startup environment is not a good thing. You need to basically live and breathe the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shervin-pishevar/separation-i-think-in-an-early-stage-company-or-a-startup-environment/) [Shervin Pishevar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shervin-pishevar/) > [HubSpot has used the lean startup method to build a spectacularly successful company. What I particularly love about HubSpot is that they are so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/hubspot-has-used-the-lean-startup-method-to-build-a-spectacularly/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [“In its place had arisen a Promised Land of Duane Reades and Chase ATMs on every corner, luxury doorman buildings, Pilates studios and spin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doree-shafrir/in-its-place-had-arisen-a-promised-land-of-duane-reades-and-chase/) [Doree Shafrir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doree-shafrir/) > [The benefit to building a startup is that customers don't have the same kind of friction when they adopt new technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-levie/the-benefit-to-building-a-startup-is-that-customers-don-t-have-the/) [Aaron Levie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-levie/) > [“A lot of the machines that Google is built on—commodity is the polite word for them—they're regular PCs and so they're not always the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-livingston/a-lot-of-the-machines-that-google-is-built-on-commodity-is-the-polite/) [Jessica Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-livingston/) > [Stalking is an underrated startup strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-rottenberg/stalking-is-an-underrated-startup-strategy/) [Linda Rottenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-rottenberg/) > [“So Mack got kind of a late start in the startup world—he founded TakeOff at the ripe old age of twenty-five”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doree-shafrir/so-mack-got-kind-of-a-late-start-in-the-startup-world-he-founded/) [Doree Shafrir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doree-shafrir/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Paul Graham > [“I'm not saying there's no such thing as genius. But if you're trying to choose between two theories and one gives you an excuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/i-m-not-saying-there-s-no-such-thing-as-genius-but-if-you-re-trying/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“This is a good plan for life in general. If you have two choices, choose the harder. If you're trying to decide whether to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/this-is-a-good-plan-for-life-in-general-if-you-have-two-choices/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“When I was a kid I was constantly being told to look at things from someone else’s point of view. What this always meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-constantly-being-told-to-look-at-things-from/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [You know your business model is broken when you're suing your customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/you-know-your-business-model-is-broken-when-you-re-suing-your/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“Hackers are unruly. That is the essence of hacking. And it is also the essence of Americanness. It is no accident that Silicon Valley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/hackers-are-unruly-that-is-the-essence-of-hacking-and-it-is-also-the/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“We often like to think of World War II as a triumph of freedom over totalitarianism. We conveniently forget that the Soviet Union was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/we-often-like-to-think-of-world-war-ii-as-a-triumph-of-freedom-over/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [It's hard to say exactly what it is about face-to-face contact that makes deals happen, but whatever it is, it hasn't yet been duplicated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/it-s-hard-to-say-exactly-what-it-is-about-face-to-face-contact-that/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [One startup I dream of funding is the one that kills the record companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/one-startup-i-dream-of-funding-is-the-one-that-kills-the-record/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“It’s easier to get people to fight for an idea. And whichever side wins, their ideas will also be considered to have triumphed, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/it-s-easier-to-get-people-to-fight-for-an-idea-and-whichever-side/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“Could civil liberties really be a cause, rather than just an effect? I think so. I think a society in which people can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/could-civil-liberties-really-be-a-cause-rather-than-just-an-effect-i/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“A great programmer, on a roll, could create a million dollars worth of wealth in a couple weeks. A mediocre programmer over the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/a-great-programmer-on-a-roll-could-create-a-million-dollars-worth-of/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [We don't have to go that far to sell our beer because our immediate accounts sell so much. Places that sold 10 cases before,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/we-don-t-have-to-go-that-far-to-sell-our-beer-because-our-immediate/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [I get a lot of criticism for telling founders to focus first on making something great, instead of worrying about how to make money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/i-get-a-lot-of-criticism-for-telling-founders-to-focus-first-on/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“So the optimal plan, if you can manage it, is to have a few trusted friends you can speak openly to. This is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/so-the-optimal-plan-if-you-can-manage-it-is-to-have-a-few-trusted/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“Public school teachers are in much the same position as prison wardens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/public-school-teachers-are-in-much-the-same-position-as-prison-wardens/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) [Explore all 94 Paul Graham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) [Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When Facebook first started, and it was just a social directory for undergrads at Harvard, it would have seemed like such a bad startup idea, like some student side project.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Graham" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/when-facebook-first-started-and-it-was-just-a-social-directory-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/when-facebook-first-started-and-it-was-just-a-social-directory-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/paul-graham-7010_bad_when-facebook-first-started-and-it-was-j_1451986.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/paul-graham-7010_bad_when-facebook-first-started-and-it-was-j_1451986.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/paul-graham-7010_bad_when-facebook-first-started-and-it-was-j_1451986.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When Facebook first started, and it was just a social directory for undergrads at Harvard, it would have…” — Paul Graham", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paul Graham", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When Facebook first started, and it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/when-facebook-first-started-and-it-was-just-a-social-directory-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/when-facebook-first-started-and-it-was-just-a-social-directory-for/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```