“Louis Pasteur’s theory of germs is ridiculous fiction.”

–Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse, 1872

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“A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the market research reports say America likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make.”

–Response to Debbie Fields’ idea of starting Mrs. Fields’ Cookies

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“We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.”

–Decca Recording Company, 1962, after an audition by the Beatles

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“..dreams are astoundingly important. They keep nagging you because you’re supposed to fulfill them. When you sense you’re special, you’re not neurotic or grandiose. Something inside you is calling to you and you have to listen. When you love to do something, that means you have a gift for it…And when you’re gifted at something, you have to do it.”

–Barbara Sher, Live the Life You Love

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“I don’t know what use any one could find for a machine that would make copies of documents. It certainly couldn’t be a feasible business by itself.”

 –the head of IBM, refusing to back the idea, forcing the inventor to found Xerox.

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“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.”

–Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977

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This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.”

–Western Union internal memo, 1876.

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“The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a ‘C,’ the idea must be feasible.”

–A Yale University management professor in response to Fred Smith’s paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service.

(Smith went on to found Federal Express Corp.)

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And, why you should not be afraid to aim high, and be willing to accept even higher:

Bill Gates:  “640K ought to be enough for anybody.”

Dream on, people!  Dream on!