The question

What important truth do very few people agree with you on?

Originally asked

Peter Thiel, to job candidates, Zero to One, chapter 1, 2014

Peter Thiel, Zero to One, chapter 1, where it is introduced as his job-interview question. Thiel supplies his own standard: a good answer takes the form "most people believe x, but the truth is the opposite of x."

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Hanna Tetteh

UN Special Representative for Libya; former Foreign Minister of Ghana

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here
I have to be optimistic. Otherwise I'll stop. And I think that when you're doing this kind of job, you have to keep yourself optimistic. You always have to find openings and entry points and try to see what you can work with and where you can create some opportunity to have a conversation that results in some concrete outcome.

United Nations podcast, 23 June 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 75 →
Ursula K. Le Guin Novelist, poet and essayist
Sometimes it just seems like the more women tell the truth, the less men want to hear it.
Recorded Zoë Carpenter, The Nation, 5 October 2016 source ↗
Brendan Rodgers Northern Irish football manager; former manager of Liverpool, Leicester City and Celtic
I always enjoy talking with players to find out what they want to achieve because each individual is different. I think once you understand what their objectives are and what they want to achieve, you are looking to find that commitment from them.
Recorded Adam Bate, Sky Sports, 31 January 2021 source ↗
Blake Masters Venture capitalist; co-author of Zero to One; 2022 U.S. Senate candidate in Arizona
Well, I'd say that I'm actually optimistic about the future of our country. That's not a sentiment most people share today. Especially on the Right, it's increasingly common to feel pessimistic about America. You know, to be 'blackpilled', as they say online. And it's understandable – I too see all the chaos and destruction this Regime is inflicting on our country and the American people. But I really do believe that we can get the pendulum to swing back our way, that we can win this fight and rebuild America. That's why I'm running for office.
Recorded Mark Granza, IM—1776 interview, recorded via Zoom, 8 December 2021, 17 December 2021 source ↗

More from Hanna Tetteh

View profile →
Question What does love feel like? Relationships
I have to be optimistic. Otherwise I'll stop. And I think that when you're doing this kind of job, you have to keep yourself optimistic. You always have to find openings and entry points and try to see what you can work with and where you can create some opportunity to have a conversation that results in some concrete outcome.
Recorded United Nations podcast, 23 June 2026 source ↗
Question What is your greatest fear? Identity & self
I have to be optimistic. Otherwise I'll stop. And I think that when you're doing this kind of job, you have to keep yourself optimistic. You always have to find openings and entry points and try to see what you can work with and where you can create some opportunity to have a conversation that results in some concrete outcome.
Recorded United Nations podcast, 23 June 2026 source ↗

More on values & belief

Also answered this

Albie Sachs, Leon Panetta, Barry Scheck, Bintou Keita, Blake Masters, Zuzana Čaputová

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

Report this answer