KEN LANGONE

The worst thing that can happen to you is you go broke. I've been broke. It's not that bad.

Back people, not ideas. A great operator with a mediocre idea will figure it out.

I love capitalism! It's the only system that lets a plumber's kid from Long Island build something this big.

Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank walked into my office with an idea about a home improvement warehouse. I saw their eyes and knew I was in.

Giving $200 million to make medical school free was easy. The decision was easy. Writing the check was easy. Knowing it would change thousands of lives — that's what matters.

You want to succeed? Outwork everyone. It's that simple and that hard.