I constantly see people rise in life who are not the smartest - sometimes not even the most diligent. But they are learning machines; they go to bed every night a little wiser than when they got up. And, boy, does that habit help, particularly when you have a long run ahead of you.

The name of the game is continuing to learn. Even if you're very well trained and have some natural aptitude, you still need to keep learning.

I know just enough about thermodynamics to understand that if it takes too much fossil-fuel energy to create ethanol, that's a very stupid way to solve an energy problem.

I'd rather throw a viper down my shirt front than hire a compensation consultant.

I regard the amount of brainpower going into money management as a national scandal. When some idiot would get rich, they'd say, 'Well, old Charlie was out in the field playing the big brass tuba on the day it rained gold.' A lot of people have become rich lately who were playing the tuba on the day it rained gold.

For years I have read the morning paper and harrumphed. There's a lot to harrumph about now.

It’s not greed that drives the world, but envy.