John Jacob Astor

"The merchant must understand that his greatest asset is the trust of his customers."

"Opportunities multiply when they are seized; they diminish when they are ignored."

"I have learned that the simplest solutions are often the most profitable."

"The man who waits for perfect conditions will never begin."

"In matters of commerce, sentiment must yield to reason."

"I have never found happiness in the pursuit of pleasure alone."

"The power of capital lies not in its possession, but in its intelligent application."

"A wise man knows when to hold fast and when to release his grip."

"I believe that every transaction should leave all parties enriched."

"The businessman who cannot adapt to changing circumstances will surely perish."

"I have found that the greatest pleasures in life are often the simplest."

"To build an empire, one must first master the art of observation."

"The man who understands the law of supply and demand understands the law of life."

"I would rather fail pursuing a great vision than succeed in a small ambition."

"True power comes not from domination, but from cooperation and mutual benefit."

"The merchant who forgets his humble beginnings will surely lose his way."

"I have learned that the most successful men are those who remain perpetual students."

"In the pursuit of wealth, never forget the pursuit of wisdom."

"A man's true measure is not what he has acquired, but what he has given."

"I believe that hard work is the surest path to independence."

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

"I have found that those who persist in the face of adversity are those who ultimately prevail."

"The businessman must always remember that money is merely a tool, not an end in itself."

"I would rather be known as a man of principle than a man of wealth."

"The art of negotiation is the art of finding common ground where none appears to exist."

"I have learned that the greatest investments are often those made in other people."