Cornelius Vanderbilt II

"The man who succeeds is the man who has learned to turn setbacks into stepping stones."

"A great enterprise is not built by one man, but by the coordination of many."

"I believe that commerce is the truest expression of human cooperation."

"The railroad age has demonstrated that human ambition knows no bounds."

"In my experience, the most profitable ventures are those that serve the public good."

"I have always maintained that a man's word is his most valuable possession."

"The future is not something that happens to us; it is something we create."

"I believe that every man has the capacity to achieve greatness through dedication."

"The measure of my life's work is not the wealth I have accumulated, but the progress I have fostered."

"The man who has a million dollars is as well off as the man who has a billion – both sleep on one bed and eat three meals a day."

"I have always believed that the way to get ahead is to work harder and smarter than everyone else around you."

"Wealth is not measured by the size of one's fortune, but by the impact one leaves upon the world."

"A man's true character is revealed not in moments of comfort, but in times of adversity and challenge."

"The future belongs to those who can see opportunity where others see only obstacles."

"I believe in the virtue of hard work, but I also believe in the wisdom of knowing when to rest."

"Success requires sacrifice – you cannot have all things at all times."

"The accumulation of wealth is merely a byproduct of providing value to society."

"One must always keep learning, for the moment you stop growing is the moment you begin to decline."

"I respect those who disagree with me, for they sharpen my thinking and strengthen my convictions."

"The legacy of a man is not what he owns, but what he builds and what he teaches others."

"Fear is the greatest obstacle to success – conquer it, and half your battles are won."

"A business is only as strong as the men and women who work within it."

"Time is the one commodity that the rich and the poor both possess in equal measure."

"To create something lasting, you must be willing to work when others rest."

"The measure of a man's wealth is his ability to help those less fortunate than himself."

"I have never met a problem that could not be solved with determination and clear thinking."

"The railroads built America, and I am proud to have played a part in that great work."

"Those who refuse to adapt to change will find themselves left behind by history."

"Patience is not a virtue of the weak – it is the weapon of the strategically minded."

"Every transaction should be fair to both parties, for only then does true trust develop."