I met many Russians over the years who were convinced my brothers and I were a cabal, pulling strings behind the scenes to shape American policy. The Soviets had no conception of how a pluralistic democracy works and believed elected officials, up to and including the president of the United States, were only figureheads acting out the roles dictated to them by the real "powers that be" - in this case, my family.
David RockefellerI am a passionate traveler, and from the time I was a child, travel formed me as much as my formal education.
David RockefellerWe are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right major crisis.
David RockefellerI owe much to mother. She had an expert's understanding, but also approached art emotionally.
David RockefellerOne cannot expect to coast along and rise automatically to the top, no matter what friends you may have in the company. There may have been a time when, in large corporations, a person could rise simply because he had a stock interest or because he had friends in top management. That's not true today. Success in business requires training and discipline and hard work. But if you're not frightened by these things, the opportunities are just as great today as they ever were.
David Rockefeller