--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Had the people who started Facebook…" description: "\"Had the people who started Facebook decided to stay at Harvard, they would not have been able to build the company, and by the time they graduated in 2..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/peter-thiel-1311_able_had-the-people-who-started-facebook-deci_1173380.jpg" --- # Had the people who started Facebook decided to stay at… ![“Had the people who started Facebook decided to stay at Harvard, they would not have been able to build the company, and by the time they graduated in 2006, that window probably would have come and gone.” quote by Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/peter-thiel-1311_able_had-the-people-who-started-facebook-deci_1173380.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/peter-thiel-1311_able_had-the-people-who-started-facebook-deci_1173380.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/peter-thiel-1311_able_had-the-people-who-started-facebook-deci_1173380.jpg) > “Had the people who started Facebook decided to stay at Harvard, they would not have been able to build the company, and by the time they graduated in 2006, that window probably would have come and gone.” [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If Facebook founders had remained at Harvard, they would have missed the critical timing needed to launch the company. **In simple terms:** Staying in school could have delayed Facebook's launch. Key Takeaway Seize opportunities before they pass. Themes timing entrepreneurship education Mood cautious optimistic Type strategic motivational When to use this quote - startup formation - career decisions - market entry - academic choices Key Concepts first‑mover advantage network effects risk taking Questions to Reflect On - What opportunities are you missing by staying in a safe environment? - How can you balance preparation with timely action? A Different Perspective Delaying can also allow better preparation; timing isn’t the only factor. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) [Facebook Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facebook-decided-3410855/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Graduated 2006](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduated-2006-1808213/) [Harvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvard/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Started Facebook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-facebook-3410856/) [Stay Harvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-harvard-3410854/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Twitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twitter/) [Window](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/window/) ## Related quotes > [I had teachers in high school to point me in the direction of the University of Indiana School of Music, and after IU, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ailyn-perez/i-had-teachers-in-high-school-to-point-me-in-the-direction-of-the/) [Ailyn Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ailyn-perez/) > [But as soon as Facebook decided that they wanted to become purveyors of news, suddenly you have these highly personalized newsfeeds where everything is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-fry/but-as-soon-as-facebook-decided-that-they-wanted-to-become-purveyors/) [Hannah Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-fry/) > [When I started out in Facebook, it had only 20 people. 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