It takes character to sit there with all that cash and do nothing. I didn't get to where I am by going after mediocre opportunities.

We have the same problem as everyone else: It's very hard to predict the future.

I agree with Peter Drucker that the culture and legal systems of the United Statesare especially favorable to shareholder interests, compared to other interests and compared to most other countries. Indeed, there are many other countries where any good going to public shareholders has a very low priority and almost every other constituency stands higher in line.

I feel that by getting rich in the way I did, I think my own example has hurt my own country.

You don't have to have perfect wisdom to get very rich - just a bit better than average over a long period of time.

Part of [having uncommon sense] is being able to tune out folly, as opposed to recognizing wisdom. If you bat away many things, you don't clutter yourself.

Once you start doing something bad, then it's easy to take the next step - and in the end, you're a moral sewer.