Quote of the day by Elon Musk: "I think it matters whether someone has a good heart"

Elon Musk is known for talking about rockets, artificial intelligence and technology. But one of his most talked-about comments was about something much simpler: character. Speaking at the SXSW conference in 2018, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO reflected on what he called one of the biggest mistakes of his career.

When asked about the greatest mistake he had made, Musk said he had often focused too much on talent and intelligence while paying too little attention to a person's character. His response surprised many because it shifted the conversation away from technical skills and toward values, trust and human behavior."The biggest mistake, in general, I've made, is to put too much of a weighting on someone's talent and not enough on their personality," Musk said.He added: "I think it actually matters whether somebody has a good heart, it really does. I've made the mistake of thinking that it's sometimes just about the brain."

What Elon Musk’s quote means

Elon Musk's comments suggest that skills and intelligence alone are not enough. He said qualities such as honesty, trust and the ability to work well with others also matter. By referring to a "good heart," Musk appeared to be talking about character and values.

His remarks suggest that strong teams are built not only on talent but also on respect, trust and good working relationships.

Why the quote still draws attention

The comments continue to attract attention because they came from one of the world's best-known technology leaders. Musk is known for building companies in electric vehicles, space technology and artificial intelligence. Yet when asked about his biggest mistake, he did not talk about technology or business strategy. Instead, he spoke about judging people and the importance of character. The remarks offered a rare glimpse into what Musk believes matters most when building successful teams and organizations.