Pavel Durov, the visionary and fiercely independent founder of the secure messaging app Telegram, has cultivated a reputation as a staunch advocate for digital privacy and freedom.

On Freedom and Privacy

Durov's battle with the Russian government over his first venture, VKontakte, and his subsequent self-exile cemented his commitment to user freedom and privacy as paramount principles.

  1. "Privacy is not for sale, and human rights should not be compromised out of fear or greed." [1]
  2. "To be truly free, you should be ready to risk everything for freedom." [1][2]
  3. "I would rather be free than to take orders from anyone." [3]
  4. "Telegram would rather exit certain markets than implement encryption backdoors that undermine user privacy." [4][5]
  5. "As soon as one agency gets to uncontrollably monitor private communications, soon enough this access falls into the hands of third parties: bribers, hackers, agents of other countries." [6]
  6. "We are not willing to compromise our values in order to increase our market share."
  7. "In a world where people increasingly depend on technology, privacy is not a luxury—it's a necessity." [7]
  8. "The biggest problem behind encryption backdoors lies in their accessibility not only by authorities but also by hackers and foreign agents." [4]
  9. "For two and a half years of our existence we haven't disclosed a single bite of data of our users."
  10. "I believe in the power of the individual to resist oppression, and that's what I'm working to support." [7]
  11. "Our response was, 'Wait a minute, this is a different country. We won't betray our Ukrainian users because you asked us to do that'." (On refusing Russian government demands regarding Ukrainian user data on VKontakte) [3]
  12. "No country is immune to the slow erosion of freedoms. Every day, those freedoms come under attack — and every day, we must defend them." [4]

On Business and Success

Durov's approach to building and running companies is unconventional, prioritizing user value and long-term vision over short-term profits and traditional business structures.

  1. "Our growth relies solely on our users suggesting to their friends to download and use Telegram." [1]
  2. "We don't put a dollar toward marketing or advertising. I think we're more efficient than Facebook." [1]
  3. "The idea shapes your Product. Without numerous fights for absolute data security and without developers' belief Telegram wouldn't make it to the top." [2]
  4. "Always know what people need the most." [2] Durov observed that people spent more time messaging than on social media feeds, leading to the creation of Telegram. [1][2]
  5. "Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected."
  6. "I think success is about being excited about the things you do and what you focus on." [8]
  7. "The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that is changing quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks."
  8. "I'm in a situation where I can determine my own future." [1][2]
  9. "It's my responsibility to support the team behind Telegram." [1][2]
  10. "For me, it was never about money. I have a few hundred million dollars in my bank account or in Bitcoin since 10 years ago, and I don't do anything with it. I don't own any real estate, jets or yachts." [9]
  11. "There are no complex tasks in this world – only many small ones that look scary when combined. Split a big task into smaller parts, organize them in the right sequence – and 'you'll get through'." [10]
  12. "Don't be afraid of competition in the market." [2]
  13. "Simplify means cutting everything that is redundant, superfluous, and just focus on the core." [8]

On Life Philosophy and Personal Growth

Durov advocates for a minimalist and disciplined lifestyle, focused on self-improvement, independence, and a rejection of societal pressures.

  1. "Your time is limited, don't waste it living someone else's life."
  2. "Do what you like. Learn. Teach. Develop. Change ourselves from within." [10]
  3. "You should get rid of other people's voices in your head. We're so much influenced by people around us... We should get rid of that completely." [8]
  4. "I'm very happy right now without any property anywhere." [1]
  5. "People give too much attention to social status." [8]
  6. "I consider myself a legal citizen of the world." [1][2]
  7. "I'm a peaceful creature; I'm vegetarian. I don't like wars." [1][2]
  8. "I'm motivated by curiosity." [2]
  9. "I never want things to be dull." [1][2]
  10. "Every one of us is going to die eventually, but we as a species will stick around for a while. That's why I think accumulating money, fame or power is irrelevant. Serving humanity is the only thing that really matters in the long run." [11]
  11. "Don't be afraid. No insurmountable obstacles, and all doubts live only in your head." [10]

Durov's 7 Rules for a Younger Appearance and Healthier Life

In a widely circulated post, Durov shared his personal rules for maintaining youthfulness and health. [12][13]

  1. Don't drink alcohol. He believes alcohol makes people "less healthy and visually older." [12][13]
  2. Sleep enough. He warns against trying to "sleep off" a week's worth of sleep deprivation on the weekend. [12][13]
  3. Don't overeat. He advocates for eating less frequently, such as twice a day within a six-hour window. [12][13]
  4. Do exercises. He prefers outdoor activities like walking, cycling, or swimming over intense cardio. [12][13]
  5. Limit stress. He suggests adopting stoic principles like believing everything happens for the best and practicing negative visualization. [12][13]
  6. Don't eat meat. He recommends seafood and wild-caught fish as an alternative to farmed red meat. [12][13]
  7. Live alone. He notes that many young-looking middle-aged men he's spoken to have lived alone for most of their lives, suggesting it may be a result of their independence. [12][13]

On Governance and Society

A self-described libertarian, Durov is skeptical of large governments and advocates for individual autonomy.

  1. "The best legislative initiative - is the absence of one." [1][2]
  2. "I think people should be allowed to self-organize more. Governments should be smaller." [14]
  3. "In my 20 years of managing discussion platforms, I noticed that conspiracy theories only strengthen each time their content is removed by moderators. Instead of putting an end to wrong ideas, censorship often makes it harder to fight them." [11]
  4. "I'm not a big fan of the idea of countries." [2]
  5. "You don't want to be geopolitically aligned. You don't want to select the winners in any of these political fights. That's why you have to be in a neutral place." (On basing Telegram in Dubai) [9]
  6. "Using laws from the pre-smartphone era to charge a CEO with crimes committed by third parties on the platform he manages is a misguided approach." [13][15]
  7. "I still have a clear conscience and ideals that are worth protecting." [16]

Learn more:

  1. The Secret of Paul Durov's Success as the Founder of Telegram | by Motovational Mag
  2. Top 5 Things to Learn from Telegram Success | Outsource IT Today
  3. Pavel Durov Speaks Out for the First Time Since His Politically-Motivated Arrest in France
  4. Pavel Durov says Telegram would exit markets before betraying users - Cointelegraph
  5. Telegram CEO says privacy matters more than market share | Digital Watch Observatory
  6. Russia's Zuckerberg: Pavel Durov Failures and Lessons Learned - YouTube
  7. From VKontakte to Telegram: How Pavel Durov Revolutionized Social Media and Messaging - Everyday Entrepreneur
  8. A Conversation With Pavel Durov. At the last TechCrunch Disrupt in San… | by Link Daniel
  9. Transcript of Pavel Durov - Podcasts
  10. Telegram CEO Pavel Durov shares two powerful life stories: one dark, one bright
  11. The Tucker Carlson Interview: Pavel Durov
  12. Pavel Durov's Telegram Success Story - Tactyqal
  13. Telegram Quietly Updates FAQ Page As Pavel Durov Says Rapid Growth Made It Easier For 'Criminals To Abuse Our Platform' - Forbes
  14. Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Speaks Out for the First Time Since Politically-Motivated Arrest - YouTube
  15. Telegram chief Pavel Durov: Arrest was 'misguided' and app is no 'anarchic paradise'
  16. #telegram ⚡️ Pavel Durov wrote his first blog post since t | Wvemor on Binance Square