James Fisk

"The secret to great wealth is understanding what others do not yet see."

"Every transaction is a story waiting to be told and embellished."

"Men of vision are often called dreamers by those lacking imagination."

"The railroad does not merely move goods; it moves the future itself."

"A man who cannot laugh at himself will find others doing it for him."

"Bankruptcy teaches lessons that prosperity never can."

"The clever operator sees opportunity where others see only obstacles."

"Markets are driven by fear and greed in equal measure."

"I have learned more from my enemies than from my friends."

"The future belongs to those willing to seize it with both hands."

"A gentleman's word is his bond only if backed by sufficient collateral."

"The masses crave spectacle more than substance, and this is their weakness."

"Every great fortune begins with a single act of audacity."

"Time is money, but money can also buy time out of one's troubles."

"The man who waits for perfect conditions will wait forever in poverty."

"Society rewards those who bend its rules without being caught."

"A well-placed investment in friendship pays dividends beyond measure."

"I have found that confidence can move markets as surely as facts."

"The true gambler knows when to hold and when to flee."

"Death is merely the final accounting sheet of one's life's ledger."

"A man's reputation is his most valuable possession until it becomes worthless."

"The difference between genius and madness is a matter of timing and profit."

"Gold does not care about morality; it flows to the strongest will."

"I have observed that success is often indistinguishable from scandal."

"The clever man makes the law work for him; the fool works for the law."

"Every great business is built on a foundation of calculated risks."

"The public loves a man who tells them what they wish to hear."

"Patience is a virtue best practiced by those with no other options."

"A friend is someone who profits from your success as much as you do."

"The future is uncertain, but uncertainty is the greatest opportunity of all."