Stephen A. Schwarzman

“When I was much younger, I realized that when I was handling something very large, and I was on my own doing that, that my breathing rate would increase, and that would affect my ability to think as well as I normally would. So when that starts happening, I slow down.”

“The best investments are the easiest ones to approve.”

“I love houses. I'm not sure why.”

“We need sobriety, rationality, and civility in the discussions on the regulation of financial institutions so that the banks can return in a robust manner to their central role in funding the economy.”

“I always felt uncomfortable with real estate because buildings don't move, and neighborhoods change.”

“My father was very bright. My mother had enormous drive. Put that together, and that's my gene pool.”

“Blackstone is a major client of many of the largest banks around the world.”

“Sometimes, success in life is knowing one's limitations.”

“After years of studying French in school, one of my professors said he'd really appreciate it if I didn't take any more French.”

“This country, of course, needs fundamental reform of our financial regulatory system, as I, and many other financial institution executives, have publicly advocated for a considerable period.”

“Paid leave is worth every penny.”

“I don't control the political world.”

“Education around entrepreneurship should start early, at secondary level, and be very robust by college level.”

“I like things with upside. That's how you make money.”

“There are no patents in finance.”

“The Schwarzman Scholars is a program that was designed with Tsinghua University. They asked me to do something in honor of their 100th anniversary.”

“I love things that cost nothing that have great results.”

“Blackstone is not really a business per se. It's a mission to be the best.”

“Markets tend to always overshoot when they get really ebullient.”

“Inaccurate analysis produces faulty insights and bad decisions - which lead to losing a tremendous amount of money.”