Xavier Niel quotes:

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 quirkiness.

The real force of Silicon Valley is the mentality, the spirit. There's no reason at all that can't be replicated in Paris.

I always follow the same idea: Start small and disrupt to create something big.

I once said, 'Steve Jobs is the American Xavier Niel,' but that was humour.

From France, you can call anywhere in the world for free. Americans can't do that!

Telecoms is a national business. There isn't a European market. There's no Telecom Italia in France.

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.

Giving only 50% of your fortune is not enough.

When you love competition, you don't want the market to consolidate.

France has the least social mobility of any developed country. The social elevator no longer works. It's broken.

We need to create an ecosystem which will make young people want to start their own company.

France has a specificity - the market players who provide Internet access are the telecom operators, and all of the players are French. They had a habit of, let's say, getting along with each other, and the prices traditionally were very high.

In life, you need a house and a car. After that, you have a choice.

The question for France and all countries is, 'Do you favour foreign Internet operators that do not pay, or do you favour national operators who pay?'

Stephane Richard is far more attuned to the market than Didier Lombard.

I don't like clothes. I don't especially like cars. I have a very nice house. I get sick on a boat.

You can spend your money on art works and sit down and look at them. Or you can use your money to help people.

Personally, I have invested in around ten U.S. companies and will continue to do so. That doesn't give me a strong experience in the American market. But I have an understanding of the public.

Each week I try to have three lunches with my children, one working lunch, and one lunch with mates.

YouTube is a problem. It has very big traffic, but it refuses to contribute to the weight of that traffic.

If you are worried about the risk to your reputation, you don't launch a telecoms firm in an aggressive way.