David Rockefeller

“Some even believe we are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterizing my family and me as 'internationalists' and of conspiring with others around the world to build a more integrated global political and economic structure - one world, if you will. If that's the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it.”

“American capitalism has been the greatest force for prosperity the world has ever known.”

“The negative impact of population growth on all of our planetary ecosystems is becoming appallingly evident.”

“I have had a wonderful life. I am a lucky man. I have been able to do what I have wanted to do.”

“Philanthropy is involved with basic innovations that transform society, not simply maintaining the status quo or filling basic social needs that were formerly the province of the public sector.”

“I don't think that you can be a leader if you don't have a real interest in the people you are leading.”

“Surely we have a responsibility to leave for future generations a planet that is healthy and habitable by all species.”

“I have always believed that the private sector is the engine of economic growth.”

“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.”

“Whatever you do, if you do it with passion and you're a perfectionist, you'll be successful.”

“My family's accumulated wealth is a result of a century of hard work and ingenuity.”

“For more than a century, ideological extremists at either end of the political spectrum have seized upon well-publicized incidents to attack the Rockefeller family for the inordinate influence they claim we wield over American political and economic institutions.”