Quotes About Power

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

By the spring of 1891, Rockefeller began to develop the queasy sense that Harper regarded his money as a blank check to cover annual deficits.

So why did Rockefeller stick to his self-defeating silence?

Ida Alice seemed determined to run through Flagler's money, gathering an expensive wardrobe and trying to buy her way into New York high society.

But the moves reflected a new wish to shape opinion

Nevertheless, the general public came away with the impression that John D. was pulling the strings.

He inveighed bitterly against the growing power of the Jews and of the Rockefeller crowd, and said more than once that our firm and his were the only two composed of white men in New York.

He now subjected the Articles of Confederation to a searching critique. He thought the sovereignty of the states only enfeebled the union.

He favored granting Congress supreme power in war, peace, trade, finance, and foreign affairs.

it is better at present not to call attention to the great power of trio, which might increase public sentiment against that power throughout United States.

Had he not been unfairly implicated, Rockefeller might have enjoyed the rebuke delivered to Rogers.

For many years, the Rothschilds, the Nobels, and Standard Oil circled around each other, each trying to forge links with a second party to isolate the third.

Bribing Frank's secretary with candy and theater tickets, Slaght gained access to Frank, who was no less protective of his father than John was.

This early experience made Grant tend to view war as a hard-luck saga of talented, professional soldiers betrayed by political opportunists plotting back in Washington.

a Morgan partner received a guarantee of riches and a seat on the high council of American finance.

If there had been as prompt and energetic action on the part of the Russian oil industry as was taken by the Standard Oil Company, the Russians would have dominated many of the world's markets

In yet another political fracas, Coleman received a caning that left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Hamilton wanted to restrain abusive majorities and minorities.

While sympathetic to Roosevelt's plea, Morgan lacked the total power over the railroad men

After Pierpont Morgan's death, the House of Morgan would become less autocratic, less identified with a single individual. Power would be diffused among several partners, although Jack Morgan would remain as figurehead.

He tried almost from the beginning of our partnership to dominate and override me," he said of Clark.

Rockefeller denigrated his critics as blackmailers, sharpsters, and crooks. He was now dangerously impervious to criticism.

As Standard Oil's leading figure, he was the only person who didn't have any direct operational responsibility.

Rockefeller reviewed every bill that arrived at home and often patrolled the hallways, turning off gaslights.