As an anonymous participant in financial markets, I never had to weigh the social consequences of my actions…. I felt justified in ignoring them on the grounds that I was playing by the rules.

Merrill Lynch is bullish on America.

Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.

The man who dies… rich dies disgraced.

Better is poverty in the hand of the god,
Than wealth in the storehouse;
Better is bread with a happy heart
Than wealth with vexation.