Collis P. Huntington

"Men of lesser ability often mistake caution for prudence."

"Every transaction should leave both parties better than they found them."

"The railroad changed not just where we go, but how we think."

"Sentiment is a luxury the ambitious cannot afford."

"I built more than railroads; I built the infrastructure of dreams."

"The man who works hardest often complains the least about his circumstances."

"To build something lasting, one must think in centuries, not years."

"Opportunity knocks softly; only those with keen ears will hear it."

"The greatest investment is always in human ambition and capability."

"I never sought wealth for its own sake, but for what it could accomplish."

"A man who cannot make difficult decisions has no business leading others."

"The transcontinental railroad was my answer to those who said it was impossible."

"Those who understand the market understand the heartbeat of civilization."

"Every great accomplishment begins with a single act of faith."

"The man who waits for permission will never seize the moment."

"I preferred to ask forgiveness rather than permission in matters of progress."

"Competition is the truest form of flattery in the business world."

"The value of a man is measured by the value he creates for others."

"To build an empire, one must first master the art of patience."

"I have always found that hard work requires no motivation beyond itself."

"The power to change the world rests in the hands of those who dare to act."

"Every great fortune is built on thousands of small decisions made rightly."

"A contract is only as good as the character of the man who signs it."

"The railroad did not just connect cities; it connected the American soul to its destiny."

"I have never feared a competitor; I have only feared my own complacency."

"The greatest returns come to those willing to take the greatest risks."

"A man's reputation is worth more than all the gold he can accumulate."

"To create wealth is to create opportunity for countless others."

"The future is always built by those dissatisfied with the present."

"I learned that the only true failure is the failure to try."