Down cycles are not fun. But they form the basis for enormous future profitability

My personal taxes are 53% of my taxable income. That's 36% on the federal level and 17% for state and local.

For future geopolitical stability and global prosperity, we need to build a culture of greater trust and understanding between China, America and the rest of the world.

My biggest job really is to figure other people out. I need to understand what makes a person tick.

It's wonderful to learn about new cultures and to be able to travel easily to so many countries.

I've lived through periods of illiquidity before. Asset prices come down. The economy slows or even goes into recession. Then the cycle re-starts. We buy at lower prices with less leverage.

I'm not feeling undertaxed. Tax reform is an important issue. You have to have an inherent sense of fairness.

I'm concerned with China growing at double or triple the rate of the West, that there will be tensions. One needs to do something to start addressing misunderstandings and frustration.

If I get angry, it's obvious. I don't have to say much.

Music-a country one can inhabit only in music.

The rich believe that their money will insulate them from setbacks and frustrations, and that's one of the absurdist expectations of all.

Don't need to stand by me, I'm enough for myself.

Commitment is an act, not a word

Every minute starts an hour.

I come from a dysfunctional family, so my views of parents and parenting used to be highly mixed.

The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read.

I tell my agent that I want to read everything.

I've never been a big gore guy.

Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance.