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David Rubenstein

David Rubenstein Quotes

Executive

David Rubenstein is an American businessman and philanthropist. He is the co-founder and co-CEO of The Carlyle Group, a global private equity firm. Rubenstein has been involved in various philanthropic endeavors and is known for his extensive collection of historical artifacts.

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Famous David Rubenstein Quotes

“I'm on a lot of nonprofit boards, but if I didn't enjoy it I wouldn't do it. I haven't yet done anything that's transformational in philanthropy. But I hope at some point to target two or three causes or organizations and really make transformational gifts.”

Ifs Two Done Three Causes Enjoy Havens Organization Boards Target Philanthropy Nonprofits

Author:David Rubenstein

“For me, few things are more compelling than watching a great opera.”

Opera Compelling

Author:David Rubenstein

“I am involved in a lot of nonprofits. And when I reached the ripe old age of 60, I wanted to provide leadership to some I had been involved in.”

Age Wanted Involved Old Age Ripe Nonprofits

Author:David Rubenstein

“I realised how rich I had become and I asked myself, 'Do I really want to be the richest person in the cemetery?”

Want Persons Rich Realised Cemetery

Author:David Rubenstein

“I regard food as fuel. I am not a brunch person.”

Persons Regard Fuel Brunch

Author:David Rubenstein

“I'm blessed by the fact I only need five hours of sleep on a daily basis. I do tend to regard Saturday and Sunday as work days.”

Needs Facts Hours Sleep Five Bases Regard Blessed Sunday Saturday Work Day Saturday And Sunday

Author:David Rubenstein

“My work life is intense. But I love what I do.”

Life Is Intense

Author:David Rubenstein

“People used to think that private equity was basically just a compensation scheme, but it is much more about making companies more efficient.”

People Thinking Used Company Efficient Schemes Equity Compensation Private Equity

Author:David Rubenstein

“All I'm doing is I'm filling out my tax returns - or my accountants are, and I'm paying whatever I'm supposed to pay, though I'm giving away a large amount of the money and that probably lowers my tax rate because I'm giving away so much money. But change the law, but don't blame me for the law. I'm not writing the law. I didn't write the law.”

Giving Writing Law Pay Return Amount Taxes Blame Rate Filling Accountants Blame Me Tax Returns Don't Blame Me

Author:David Rubenstein

“Anybody who gives away money is mostly looking at things where they think they can make a difference. I'm trying to help people who helped me, educational institutions that helped me with scholarships, or organizations that were very useful to me in growing up.”

People Thinking Giving Trying Helping Differences Growing Up Growing Organization Institutions Educational Making A Difference Scholarship Educational Institutions

Author:David Rubenstein

“I don't really try to get involved politically by giving money to politicians or by saying I'm a Democrat or Republican. Right now, I just view myself as an American.”

Giving Trying Views Involved Politician Republican Right Now Democrat Get Involved Giving Money

Author:David Rubenstein

“I give away about 50 percent of my income, so my, you know, desire to give back to the country is pretty strong and I intend to give away a lot more. I've signed the giving pledge with Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, and I intend to give away the bulk of my money.”

Knows Giving Country Desire Strong Percent Bills Income Gates Giving Back Pledge Buffett Warren Buffet

Author:David Rubenstein

“I think it's a little unfair for people to say you're not paying your fair share of taxes. I'm paying what I'm supposed to pay. Change the law, and I'll pay what I'm supposed to pay.”

People Thinking Littles Law Pay Share Taxes Fairs Unfair Fair Share

Author:David Rubenstein

“I've given some money to the scholarships in the District of Columbia, to the best students in D.C... many of the students have written me letters telling me they could not have afforded to go to college without the scholarship and money I've given them.”

Given Written Students College Letters Scholarship Columbia Best Students

Author:David Rubenstein

“It's clear to me when you do private equity well, you're making companies more efficient and helping them grow and become more profitable. That success means our investors - such as public pension funds - benefit, which contributes to the economic wealth of society.”

Wells Mean Helping Grows Wealth Company Clear Economic Benefits Fund Investors Efficient Equity Profitable Pension Private Equity

Author:David Rubenstein

“Moneymaking was never anything to me. I was happy never making money; I just was happy doing things I liked. But I fell into the money thing. I now don't feel guilty about it, but I am determined to give away the bulk of it and enjoy doing it.”

Giving Feels Enjoy Determined Guilty Making Money I Am Determined

Author:David Rubenstein

“My father worked in a post office and never made probably more than $8,000 a year as an employee of the post office, so when people can rise up from very modest circumstances and do well economically, I think that's a good thing about America, and we should encourage that kind of activity.”

People Thinking Should Years Wells Kind Made America Father Circumstances Activity Office Good Things Posts Employee Modest Post Office

Author:David Rubenstein

“Obama had reached out to the business community, they just haven't liked all of his decisions and some of his rhetoric. But generally, I think the administration is quite open and accessible.”

Thinking Community Decision Havens Administration Rhetoric

Author:David Rubenstein

“What do most people say on their deathbed? They don't say, 'I wish I'd made more money.' What they say is, 'I wish I'd spent more time with my family and done more for society or my community.”

People Made Done Wish Community My Family More Time More Money Deathbed

Author:David Rubenstein

“When I worked in the White House for President Carter, we tried to do comprehensive tax reform and we made some progress, and other presidents have as well.”

Wells Made House President White Progress Taxes Reform White House Comprehensive Carter Tax Reform President Carter

Author:David Rubenstein

“You can only do three things with your money. You can spend it. You can invest it. Or you can give it away. And if you invest it, you're really just getting more money to give away or buy something. How many things can you buy? So I don't really think there's a lot of choices.”

Ifs Thinking Giving Choices Three More Money Three Things

Author:David Rubenstein

“Sometimes the best decisions in life are on the spur of the moment. So I generally try to do what I think is right. And sometimes I make mistakes.”

Thinking Trying Sometimes Moments Decision Mistake Making Mistakes Spurs I Make Mistakes Spur Of The Moment

Author:David Rubenstein

“As the baby boomers like me are retiring and getting ready to retire, they will spend whatever it takes - and theyre the wealthiest generation in our country - to make themselves live an enjoyable life in their retirement years.”

Years Country Generations Ready Baby Like Me Our Country Retirement Retiring Enjoyable Whatever It Takes Boomers Baby Boomer Retirement Years

Author:David Rubenstein

“I really hope that the philanthropy movement is seen not just as wealthy people giving money away but wealthy people giving away their time, their energy and their ideas.”

People Giving Ideas Energy Movement Wealthy Philanthropy Giving Money

Author:David Rubenstein

“Do not always say no. If satisfied with the seat in place and not reckless, the next 20 years you will still sit there alone”

Ifs Years Stills Next Satisfied Seats Reckless

Author:David Rubenstein

“Persist - don't take no for an answer. If you're happy to sit at your desk and not take any risk, you'll be sitting at your desk for the next 20 years.”

Ifs Years Next Wealth Answers Money Risk Sitting Making Money Desks Persist No Money

Author:David Rubenstein

“The world is a complicated place, and there's a lot of division between people. The performing arts tend to unify people in a way nothing else does.”

People World Way Doe Art Complicated Theatre Performing Division Performing Arts

Author:David Rubenstein

About the Author

Born: August 11, 1949
Known for: Executive
Quotes: 27

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