Stephen A. Schwarzman

“I'm pretty good on my feet. I'm pretty decent at bobbing and weaving, but there's only so long you can bob and weave when you don't have a good base.”

“In the charitable world, I find myself giving to large projects that I think can make a large-scale impact.”

“I'm concerned with China growing at double or triple the rate of the West, that there will be tensions. One needs to do something to start addressing misunderstandings and frustration.”

“Being reasonably direct about what you're doing, being comfortable, is the best way to do things.”

“China is an indomitable force, and they have a commitment for excellence.”

“Next to my mom, I'm actually a shrinking violet.”

“For future geopolitical stability and global prosperity, we need to build a culture of greater trust and understanding between China, America and the rest of the world.”

“There's usually room in the theme parks business for efficiencies on the cost side and new investment, which drives traffic.”

“It's a great privilege to be asked to help the country - even if it occasionally comes with some degree of criticism.”

“China on the world stage, in terms of interaction with the rest of the world, has been relatively very new due to the long isolation period until Deng Xiaoping's times.”

“I think people have to read more and learn more about what's going on internationally.”

“Some of the people in finance touch enormous parts of the economy.”

“I like being in warm weather. I find that relaxes me. I like being near water. I like sitting on a beach and sort of hearing the water, watching waves break, looking at the shimmering. I find that really relaxing.”

“Every year, I speak to our new associates and give them this advice, although in my own words. 'This isn't like school,' I tell them, 'where you want to get your hand in the air and give an answer quickly. The only grade here is 100. Deadlines are important, but at Blackstone you can always get help in meeting them.'”

“Don't go into something you actually don't know much about, in the hopes that you're going to get really financially successful and rewarded... even though people think you're, like, terrific.”

“You can't grow unless your banking system is expanding and you are extending credit.”

“I've lived through periods of illiquidity before. Asset prices come down. The economy slows or even goes into recession. Then the cycle re-starts. We buy at lower prices with less leverage.”

“I grew up in a small town outside Philadelphia and went to the local high school, where I ran track all four years.”

“Dodd-Frank has disproportionately burdened community banks, despite their having no role in the financial crisis.”

“Every day should be a good day. People fool themselves that they'll be here forever.”