--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mark Zuckerberg did his own software for…" description: "\"Mark Zuckerberg did his own software for Facebook, and Larry Page and Sergey Brin made their own for Google.\" — Xavier Niel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/xavier-niel-16695_did_mark-zuckerberg-did-his-own-software-for_3107963.jpg" --- # Mark Zuckerberg did his own software for Facebook, and… ![“Mark Zuckerberg did his own software for Facebook, and Larry Page and Sergey Brin made their own for Google.” quote by Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/xavier-niel-16695_did_mark-zuckerberg-did-his-own-software-for_3107963.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/xavier-niel-16695_did_mark-zuckerberg-did-his-own-software-for_3107963.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/xavier-niel-16695_did_mark-zuckerberg-did-his-own-software-for_3107963.jpg) > “Mark Zuckerberg did his own software for Facebook, and Larry Page and Sergey Brin made their own for Google.” [Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts two tech founders, emphasizing that they personally built their core products, suggesting hands‑on involvement is key to success. **In simple terms:** Founders who code their own products often achieve greater impact. Key Takeaway Engage directly with the core work of your venture. Themes entrepreneurship technology leadership Mood inspirational pragmatic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - startup creation - software engineering - innovation labs Key Concepts product development founder involvement Questions to Reflect On - Do you need to code to lead a tech company? - What are the risks of micromanaging? A Different Perspective Hands‑on work may not be feasible for all founders. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brin Google](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brin-google-5416261/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Facebook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facebook/) [Google](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/google/) [His](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his/) [Larry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/larry/) [Larry Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/larry-page/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mark/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mark-zuckerberg/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/page/) [Page Sergey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/page-sergey-5416260/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Software](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/software/) [Software Facebook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/software-facebook-5416259/) [Twitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twitter/) ## Related quotes > [EVERY MOMENT IN business happens only once. The next Bill Gates will not build an operating system. The next Larry Page or Sergey Brin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/every-moment-in-business-happens-only-once-the-next-bill-gates-will/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) > [And I love the people there. Sergey Brin and Larry Page are cool. But I'm terrified of the next generation that takes over. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-appelbaum/and-i-love-the-people-there-sergey-brin-and-larry-page-are-cool-but-i/) [Jacob Appelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-appelbaum/) > [“Larry Page probably never listened to early Louis Armstrong records, in which the notion of time is reinvented. Armstrong threw away the classical meanings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-taplin/larry-page-probably-never-listened-to-early-louis-armstrong-records/) [Jonathan Taplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-taplin/) > [“A method of schooling founded by the Italian educator Maria Montessori that emphasizes collaborative, explorative learning, and whose alumni include Google’s founders, Sergey Brin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-coyle/a-method-of-schooling-founded-by-the-italian-educator-maria/) [Daniel Coyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-coyle/) > [In the tech world, you can reel off great products in several ways. You can have the once-in-a-lifetime gut instincts of a Steve Jobs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/in-the-tech-world-you-can-reel-off-great-products-in-several-ways-you/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [If we want leaders to make good decisions amid huge complexity, and learn how to build great teams, then we should send them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-cummings/if-we-want-leaders-to-make-good-decisions-amid-huge-complexity-and/) [Dominic Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-cummings/) > [“Investors include former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Google cofounder Larry Page. Planetary Resources’ lead was followed in 2013 by a firm called Deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-l-petranek/investors-include-former-google-ceo-eric-schmidt-and-google-cofounder/) [Stephen L. Petranek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-l-petranek/) > [Larry Page, Brian McClendon, and the Google Maps teams have been following our progress closely and are excited about what we've accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-bardin/larry-page-brian-mcclendon-and-the-google-maps-teams-have-been/) [Noam Bardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-bardin/) > [Larry Page, co-founder of Google, is an unbelievable big thinker, and there was a saying in Google that if you wanted to know the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/larry-page-co-founder-of-google-is-an-unbelievable-big-thinker-and/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [“In 1998, Google cofounders Sergey Brin and Larry Page approached Yahoo! and suggested a merger. Yahoo! could have snapped up the company for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/in-1998-google-cofounders-sergey-brin-and-larry-page-approached-yahoo/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“I struck up a conversation with Larry Page, Google’s brilliant cofounder. “Larry, I still don’t get it. There are so many search companies. Web…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/i-struck-up-a-conversation-with-larry-page-google-s-brilliant/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [I think that Google has definitely influenced my moral values and the ethics. I think when Larry Page started the company, they weren't in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-wojcicki/i-think-that-google-has-definitely-influenced-my-moral-values-and-the/) [Anne Wojcicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-wojcicki/) > [“Google’s trucks would pull up to libraries and quietly walk away with boxes of books to be quickly scanned and returned. “If you don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-foer/google-s-trucks-would-pull-up-to-libraries-and-quietly-walk-away-with/) [Franklin Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-foer/) > [“Montessori classrooms emphasize self-directed learning, hands-on engagement with a wide variety of materials (including plants and animals), and a largely unstructured school day. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-brynjolfsson/montessori-classrooms-emphasize-self-directed-learning-hands-on/) [Erik Brynjolfsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-brynjolfsson/) > [Mark Zuckerberg is a rich white dude from a really privileged background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sunde/mark-zuckerberg-is-a-rich-white-dude-from-a-really-privileged/) [Peter Sunde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sunde/) ## More by Xavier Niel > [France has a specificity - the market players who provide Internet access are the telecom operators, and all of the players are French. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/france-has-a-specificity-the-market-players-who-provide-internet/) [Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) > [I once said, 'Steve Jobs is the American Xavier Niel,' but that was humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/i-once-said-steve-jobs-is-the-american-xavier-niel-but-that-was-humour/) [Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) > ['Entrepreneur' is a French word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/entrepreneur-is-a-french-word/) [Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) > [I made a lot of money, and I want to give something back to my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/i-made-a-lot-of-money-and-i-want-to-give-something-back-to-my-country/) [Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) > [Telecoms is a national business. There isn't a European market. There's no Telecom Italia in France.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/telecoms-is-a-national-business-there-isn-t-a-european-market-there-s/) [Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) > [France is a fantastic country. It's between the Anglo-Saxon and Latin cultures. We have some of the Anglo-Saxon rigor, and some of the Latin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/france-is-a-fantastic-country-it-s-between-the-anglo-saxon-and-latin/) [Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) > [I'm not unusual; it's the others who are strange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/i-m-not-unusual-it-s-the-others-who-are-strange/) [Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) > [Stephane Richard is far more attuned to the market than Didier Lombard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/stephane-richard-is-far-more-attuned-to-the-market-than-didier-lombard/) [Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) > [The real force of Silicon Valley is the mentality, the spirit. There's no reason at all that can't be replicated in Paris.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/the-real-force-of-silicon-valley-is-the-mentality-the-spirit-there-s/) [Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) > [It's funny how the smallest things I've done speak the loudest about me, but I like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/it-s-funny-how-the-smallest-things-i-ve-done-speak-the-loudest-about/) [Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) > [The question for France and all countries is, 'Do you favour foreign Internet operators that do not pay, or do you favour national operators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/the-question-for-france-and-all-countries-is-do-you-favour-foreign/) [Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) > [The most sought-after candidates in the world today by companies like mine are people who make computer software - there's a shortage of talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/the-most-sought-after-candidates-in-the-world-today-by-companies-like/) [Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) > [If you are worried about the risk to your reputation, you don't launch a telecoms firm in an aggressive way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/if-you-are-worried-about-the-risk-to-your-reputation-you-don-t-launch/) [Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) > [We have to help young people, because at the end of the day, we won't have an economy if we don't have them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/we-have-to-help-young-people-because-at-the-end-of-the-day-we-won-t/) [Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) > [You can spend your money on art works and sit down and look at them. Or you can use your money to help people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/you-can-spend-your-money-on-art-works-and-sit-down-and-look-at-them/) [Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) [Explore all 39 Xavier Niel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) ## More Did quotes > [Hats off to starting a franchise younger than we all did in 'Twilight' and keeping your cool. The 'Harry Potter' men and women had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/hats-off-to-starting-a-franchise-younger-than-we-all-did-in-twilight/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/) [David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/) > [Here we are 17 years later. Those agencies never did come through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/here-we-are-17-years-later-those-agencies-never-did-come-through/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/) [Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) > [You didn't want to laugh, did you? It wasn't very funny, was it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-kennedy/you-didn-t-want-to-laugh-did-you-it-wasn-t-very-funny-was-it/) [Graham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-kennedy/) > [I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood and was raised by a man who did not emote, ever... I always cry at movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-grew-up-in-a-blue-collar-neighborhood-and-was-raised-by-a-man-who/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [I met Tyler Perry and we did 'House of Payne' and a movie. We've done a couple other films since then, but it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-gross/i-met-tyler-perry-and-we-did-house-of-payne-and-a-movie-we-ve-done-a/) [Lance Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-gross/) > [The whole nuclear-arms-control and non-proliferation policy of the nuclear powers is a fraud: The Americans could not prevent the Soviets from replicating their weaponry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/the-whole-nuclear-arms-control-and-non-proliferation-policy-of-the/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [I am excited to partner with Aeropostale for my very own collection. It was a great experience to be able to work with them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-mota/i-am-excited-to-partner-with-aeropostale-for-my-very-own-collection/) [Bethany Mota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-mota/) > [When we built Roomba, we explicitly designed it to not have a face. We didn't want to think it was cute; we wanted people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-angle/when-we-built-roomba-we-explicitly-designed-it-to-not-have-a-face-we/) [Colin Angle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-angle/) > [I turned to my mom and said, 'I'm going to be a martial arts movie star.' She didn't believe me, and neither did my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adkins/i-turned-to-my-mom-and-said-i-m-going-to-be-a-martial-arts-movie-star/) [Scott Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adkins/) [Browse all 4,331 Did quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mark Zuckerberg did his own software for Facebook, and Larry Page and Sergey Brin made their own for Google.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Xavier Niel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/mark-zuckerberg-did-his-own-software-for-facebook-and-larry-page-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Did" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/mark-zuckerberg-did-his-own-software-for-facebook-and-larry-page-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/xavier-niel-16695_did_mark-zuckerberg-did-his-own-software-for_3107963.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/xavier-niel-16695_did_mark-zuckerberg-did-his-own-software-for_3107963.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/xavier-niel-16695_did_mark-zuckerberg-did-his-own-software-for_3107963.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mark Zuckerberg did his own software for Facebook, and Larry Page and Sergey Brin made their own for Google.” — Xavier Niel", "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": "Xavier Niel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Mark Zuckerberg did his own software...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/mark-zuckerberg-did-his-own-software-for-facebook-and-larry-page-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/mark-zuckerberg-did-his-own-software-for-facebook-and-larry-page-and/#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 } } ] } ```