Quotes from Ron Chernow

By instinct, by blind faith, by knowledge of his father's private character—by everything but detailed knowledge of his business career

He believed there was a time to think and then a time to act.

As at Standard Oil, Rockefeller insisted upon keeping a cash balance that never dipped below $10 million.

Once he had made up his mind, however, he was no longer troubled by doubts and pursued his vision with undeviating faith.

Since he also had a sizable stake in U.S. government bonds, he felt he could play the market with impunity.

Frank was the last person she had expected to volunteer as a source.

Senior must have feared that the stupendous weight of the fortune would crush his delicate son.

A born contrarian, Rockefeller insisted upon buying in declining markets and selling in rising ones.

By the time of "A Full Vindication," Hamilton had clearly assumed the coloring of his environment.

Unfortunately, once in that state of mind, he was all but deaf to criticism.

Having twice been sued by people for offering incorrect market advice, he refrained from offering stock tips.

On February 2, 1780, hard on the heels of Cornelia and Polly, Elizabeth Schuyler arrived in Morristown, accompanied by a military escort, to stay with relatives.

The idea was not to compete, at least not too openly.

Far more telling was how he became a divisive issue among Republicans and helped to split the party in 1912 over several issues. One

At the time, Lawson noted, Standard Oil was considered "the greatest power in the land," and its supposed involvement had stimulated a buying mania.60

Junior would have inherited both the controversy and the legal liability that went with the stock.

who warned Roosevelt not to antagonize the Morgan interests without any proof of major wrongdoing.

John Adams said that if Washington "was not the greatest president, he was the best actor of the presidency we have ever had.

Had Rockefeller unloaded the oil stock on Junior, editorialists would also have accused him of fleeing retribution and responsibility.

As early as 1775, Philadelphia Quakers had launched the world's first antislavery society, followed by others in the north and south.

Whenever they met, they stayed away from money talk and spoke of educational policy.

Rockefeller did not show any anxiety about the absence of security

Rogers and William Rockefeller had lured investors with the promise of their own involvement, but they dumped stock soon after it was issued.

The struggle for the survival of the fittest, in the sea and on the land the world over, as well as the law of supply and demand, were observed in all the ages past until the Standard Oil Company preached the doctrines of cooperation, and it did cooperate so successfully and so fairly that its most bitter opponents were won over to its views and made to realize that rational, sane, modern, progressive administration was necessary to success.103