Quotes from Stephen A. Schwarzman

I chose to start Schwarzman Scholars because I saw the potential for the world to become focused and unhappy with China, in large part because of the populism that was growing throughout the world.

Part of China's strategic planning is to make their universities among the top level of the world, and I think they understand you can't do that without the adoption of some of the principles of the great universities in the West; one of those is the ability to have free expression and discussion in the classroom.

I've always been comfortable with people who run things, whether it was the principal of my high school or the president of the university.

What I've found in being around political people is they're willing to negotiate their ideology somewhere around 5 percent. They believe that's really stepping out. And it's really hard to do business when you only move 5 percent from your ideology.

As you have more resources in life, it's your obligation to deploy those for the benefit of others.

If I get angry, it's obvious. I don't have to say much.

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

When society starts moving in a way that becomes very negative, whether it's in the West or any other place, I've always found that it's very useful to have people around who actually know what's happening.

The concept of fair value accounting is correct and useful, but the application during periods of crisis is problematic. It's another one of those unintended consequences of making a rule that's supposed to be good that turns out the other way.

One of the rules I've learned is that struggling to try and think your way into making an investment is usually the best way to not have a great outcome.

Deals really have to do with the overlap of what one side wants and the other side wants, and it's really just the discovery of where that overlap is and how you decide to get there.

When you lose control of risk at a financial institution, you do a variety of unfortunate credit extensions or purchases - and all of a sudden, you've blown up your business.

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.

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

My first trip to China was 1990, and that was in a world where there were virtually no cars at all on the road, and everybody had bicycles.

As long as you're excellent, things work out for you.

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

Markets tend to always overshoot when they get really ebullient.

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.