William K. Vanderbilt

"A successful man is one who has forgotten more than most men will ever learn."

"The world respects strength tempered with mercy."

"In matters of business, sentiment must yield to sense."

"The greatest challenge facing a wealthy man is the proper use of his wealth."

"I believe that the pursuit of wealth without the pursuit of virtue is a hollow victory."

"The man who remains stagnant in his thinking will stagnate in his circumstances."

"A nation's progress can be measured by the quality of its infrastructure."

"True freedom comes not from the absence of constraints, but from the mastery of them."

"The greatest inheritances are often invisible - the values and principles passed down through generations."

"I have found that the most profitable ventures are those conducted with the highest principles."

"A man of influence must bear the weight of that influence with grace and wisdom."

"The pursuit of happiness is often less successful than the pursuit of purpose."

"In the final analysis, a man is remembered not for what he took, but for what he gave."

"The modern industrialist is a builder of civilization, not merely a maker of profit."

"I have observed that those who serve others best serve themselves best."

"The true cost of anything is measured in the opportunity it creates or destroys."

"A man's character is revealed not in his moments of triumph, but in his moments of trial."

"The foundation of all lasting success is laid in the bedrock of honest dealing."

"I believe that commerce conducted with conscience will outlast commerce conducted without it."

"The advancement of society depends upon the advancement of those within it."

"A wise investor invests not just in projects, but in the integrity of the men who undertake them."

"The greatest power lies not in command, but in persuasion."

"I have learned that the fastest way to success is often the longest way around."

"A man cannot escape his responsibilities through the acquisition of wealth; wealth multiplies them."

"The transformation of raw materials into useful goods is the noblest form of creation."

"In every negotiation, the best outcome is one where both parties feel they have gained something of value."

"I believe that the development of infrastructure is the development of civilization itself."

"A man's worth is ultimately determined by the width of his vision and the depth of his principles."

"The greatest achievements are those that outlive the men who achieve them."

"I have found that gratitude is the rarest and most valuable of all human emotions."