Cornelius Vanderbilt II

"I have always believed that education is the foundation upon which all else is built."

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the determination to act despite it."

"The man who trusts only himself will find himself alone."

"Great enterprises require great patience and greater vision."

"I would rather be remembered for what I have done than for what I have acquired."

"The railroad is the nervous system of the modern nation."

"In business, as in life, one must sometimes take calculated risks."

"The pursuit of excellence is never complete; it is a lifelong journey."

"I have found that the most profitable ventures are often those that serve a genuine need."

"A man's word should be his bond, especially in matters of commerce."

"The strength of a nation lies in the vigor of its commerce and industry."

"I believe that a man should build for posterity, not merely for himself."

"The obstacles we overcome are the stepping stones to greater achievement."

"In the modern age, information travels as fast as the railroads can carry it."

"The man who stops learning has already begun to decline."

"I have always held that hard work is the surest path to prosperity."

"The art of business is the art of reading men and circumstances."

"A fortune wisely spent on public works is a fortune well invested."

"The competition between great enterprises is the engine of progress."

"I have spent my life as a servant of commerce, and I am proud of it."

"The man who fears failure has already failed."

"True wealth is the ability to shape the world according to one's vision."

"I believe that every man has the capacity for greatness if he cultivates it."

"The railroad connects not just places, but people and possibilities."

"In times of change, the adaptable man prospers while the rigid man perishes."

"I have always found satisfaction in building something that lasts."

"The pursuit of profit should never compromise one's integrity."

"A man's character is revealed in how he treats those beneath him in station."

"The greatest business lessons cannot be learned in a classroom; they are learned through experience."

"I have found that the most successful men are those who love their work."