David Rockefeller Quotes

A collection of quotes by David Rockefeller.

David Rockefeller (1915-2017) was an American banker, philanthropist, and businessman. He was the grandson of John D. Rockefeller, founder of the Standard Oil Company. As the chairman and chief executive of Chase Manhattan Corporation, David Rockefeller played a prominent role in the world of finance. He was renowned for his extensive international connections and involvement in numerous organizations, including the Council on Foreign Relations and the Trilateral Commission. A committed philanthropist, he donated generously to various causes, with a focus on arts, education, and healthcare. Rockefeller's influential career and dedication to improving society left a lasting impact.

I think of art as the highest level of creativity. To me, it

I think of art as the highest level of creativity. To me, it is one of the greatest sources of enjoyment.

David Rockefeller

I am convinced that material things can contribute a lot to

I am convinced that material things can contribute a lot to making one's life pleasant, but, basically, if you do not have very good friends and relatives who matter to you, life will be really empty and sad and material things cease to be important.

David Rockefeller

I believe that government is the servant of the people and n

I believe that government is the servant of the people and not their master.

David Rockefeller

I hope the Guggenheim plan will be revived.

I hope the Guggenheim plan will be revived.

David Rockefeller

If necessity is the mother of invention, discontent is the f

If necessity is the mother of invention, discontent is the father of progress.

David Rockefeller

One cannot expect to coast along and rise automatically to t

One 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

The Japanese have a wonderful sense of design and a refineme

The Japanese have a wonderful sense of design and a refinement in their art. They try to produce beautiful paintings with the minimum number of strokes.

David Rockefeller

I owe much to mother. She had an expert's understanding, but

I owe much to mother. She had an expert's understanding, but also approached art emotionally.

David Rockefeller

Philanthropy is involved with basic innovations that transfo

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.

David Rockefeller

I am a passionate traveler, and from the time I was a child,

I am a passionate traveler, and from the time I was a child, travel formed me as much as my formal education.

David Rockefeller

My grandfather, along with Carnegie, was a pioneer in philan

My grandfather, along with Carnegie, was a pioneer in philanthropy, which my father then practiced on a very large scale.

David Rockefeller

As children we recognized that we belonged to an unusual, ev

As children we recognized that we belonged to an unusual, even exceptional, family, but the effect was different on each of us.

David Rockefeller

I learned more from my mother than from all the art historia

I learned more from my mother than from all the art historians and curators who have informed me about technical aspects of art history and art appreciation over the years.

David Rockefeller