Cornelius Vanderbilt

"I do not trust a man who says he has no ambition."

"The art of business is knowing when to hold and when to fold."

"Every dollar spent is a dollar that could have been invested."

"I have learned that the most valuable commodity is reliable information."

"The man who fears change is the man who will be left behind."

"I respect a man who admits his mistakes and learns from them."

"The railroad has shown me that infrastructure is the foundation of civilization."

"I have built my life on the principle that nothing is impossible for the determined."

"The greatest trick of business is making your customers feel like they won."

"I do not fear the future; I prepare for it."

"The secret of wealth is not in earning more, but in desiring less."

"I have always believed that hard work is the only true democracy."

"The man who cannot say no will never build an empire."

"I respect those who understand that profit and ethics are not mutually exclusive."

"The future of America lies in the hands of those who build, not those who merely inherit."

"I have learned that the best defense is an offense conducted with precision."

"The accumulation of power requires the relinquishment of sentiment."

"I do not invest in dreams; I invest in certainties."

"The man who understands human nature will always succeed in business."

"I respect a man who can be ruthless in business yet kind in his personal life."

"The railroad has taught me that vision without execution is merely fantasy."

"I have always believed that the best time to expand is when others are contracting."

"The secret to my longevity is that I never stop learning."

"I do not fear bankruptcy; I fear irrelevance."

"The man who can influence public opinion can influence the market."

"I respect those who understand that luck is the residue of preparation."

"The future belongs to those who understand the power of transportation."

"I have learned that the greatest leverage is not financial, but psychological."

"The art of negotiation is knowing when to walk away."

"I do not regret my ruthlessness; I regret only my moments of weakness."