Jacob Fugger

"To maintain power, one must occasionally relinquish it; control that cannot adapt will eventually shatter."

"The greatest adventure is not in distant lands but in the journey of building something from nothing."

"I have discovered that the man who can laugh at his own mistakes becomes impervious to the mockery of others."

"A fortress built on avarice will fall to those animated by purpose and hope."

"The surest way to measure a man is to observe his behavior when he has nothing left to lose."

"Those who cannot imagine a better future will never create one, no matter how wealthy they become."

"To succeed in distant markets, one must first succeed in understanding the local heart and mind."

"The cruelest poverty is the poverty of spirit that comes from pursuing only wealth."

"A legacy of gold fades; a legacy of goodness echoes through generations."

"I have found that the smallest kindnesses often produce the largest returns in unexpected ways."

"The man who depends entirely on his own counsel has access only to the limits of his own understanding."

"Justice in commerce is not charity but the recognition that fair dealing benefits all parties for all time."

"To be truly free, one must first free oneself from the tyranny of wanting more than one could ever need."

"The price of honor is sometimes the sacrifice of immediate gain, but the reward is an unsold conscience."

"Those who understand that their workers' prosperity is their own prosperity will never lack for loyalty."

"I believe that creativity in business comes from the same source as creativity in art: freedom to imagine boldly."

"The merchant who sees his customers as means to profit will eventually find himself with no customers at all."

"To build a true empire, invest in minds before investing in stone and steel."

"The strength of a man is not measured by the number of his servants but by the quality of his character."

"A reputation for integrity is worth more than a warehouse of goods, for it never depreciates."

"Those who fear death often live in a manner that makes their death inevitable; courage prolongs life."

"I have learned that wisdom often whispers while foolishness shouts; listen for the quiet voice."

"The greatest technology is not a tool but a system of trust that allows strangers to do business together."

"To master change, one must first understand that change is the only constant in all of creation."

"The man who can find joy in simple things will never be enslaved by the pursuit of complicated luxuries."

"A fortune built too quickly often reveals the builder's character to be equally hollow."

"I have discovered that the most powerful motivation is not fear but the love of something greater than oneself."

"To create lasting value, think not of the profit of today but the trust of tomorrow."

"Those who possess much are often possessed by their possessions; simplicity is a form of liberation."

"The surest defense against corruption is to surround yourself with people of genuine principle."