If you want your business to survive for 100 years, you've got to make it through every single day for 100 years. It's not enough to do it 99.9% of the time.

I did not think I would see the day when, you know, an AIG would not be able to have its checks clear.

We can afford to lose money - even a lot of money. But we can't afford to lose reputation - even a shred of reputation.

I have a house that I bought 55 years ago. It's warm in the winter; it's cool in the summer. It has everything I wanted, plus it has all kinds of good memories. Like my kids, I have good thoughts about that. I can't imagine living any better.

A pin lies in wait for every bubble. And when the two eventually meet, a new wave of investors learns some very old lessons: First, many in Wall Street (a community in which quality control is not prized) will sell investors anything they will buy. Second, speculation is most dangerous when it looks easiest.

Ignore the stock market, ignore the economy, and buy a business you understand.

If the reason for doing something is that everyone else is doing it, it's not a good enough reason.