Welcome to our collection of insightful quotes by Stephen A. Schwarzman, an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. As the co-founder and CEO of Blackstone, one of the world’s leading investment firms, Schwarzman has amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience in the realms of finance, entrepreneurship, and leadership. His profound insights offer valuable lessons for aspiring business professionals, investors, and anyone seeking wisdom in navigating the complexities of the corporate world.
Throughout his illustrious career, Stephen A. Schwarzman has shared his perspectives on various aspects of business, finance, and success, offering valuable advice on seizing opportunities, overcoming challenges, and achieving excellence. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned investor, or simply someone eager to glean wisdom from a titan of industry, Schwarzman’s quotes are sure to inspire, motivate, and provoke thought. Explore his words of wisdom below and consider how they might apply to your own journey of personal and professional growth.
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. Stephen A. Schwarzman
In 2014, Blackstone was the most profitable money manager in the world. I did not anticipate that. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Part of China’s strategic planning is to make their universities among the top level of the world, and I think they understand you can’t do that without the adoption of some of the principles of the great universities in the West; one of those is the ability to have free expression and discussion in the classroom. Stephen A. Schwarzman
The library helps lower- and middle-income people – immigrants – get their shot at the American dream. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I’m doing my sit-ups and watching CNBC. Suddenly, somebody starts talking about me on television… The business has gone into a weird zone of visibility. For those of us who have done it for a long time, it’s strange. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Public service is a core value for people of my generation. Stephen A. Schwarzman
In a financial crisis, only the Fed, as the lender of last resort, might stand between our economy and financial catastrophe. We must leave the Fed with the flexibility to provide liquidity in order to stop a financial panic. Stephen A. Schwarzman
What I’ve found in being around political people is they’re willing to negotiate their ideology somewhere around 5 percent. They believe that’s really stepping out. And it’s really hard to do business when you only move 5 percent from your ideology. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Today, whenever I’m under pressure to make a decision on a transaction but I don’t know what the right one is, I try desperately to postpone it. I’ll insist on more information – on doing extra laps around the intellectual parking lot – before committing. I take the same approach with people, too. Stephen A. Schwarzman
The language skill in the U.S. for the most part has been awful. Many Americans don’t learn any foreign language. Stephen A. Schwarzman
China is an indomitable force, and they have a commitment for excellence. Stephen A. Schwarzman
As the world has become more predatory and aggressive, my impression is that the investment banking business has moved from being relationship-oriented to being increasingly transaction-oriented. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I think people have to read more and learn more about what’s going on internationally. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I don’t control the political world. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Being reasonably direct about what you’re doing, being comfortable, is the best way to do things. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Always, always make good on what you say. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I can’t micromanage what anybody pays or doesn’t pay. But the concept that half of the public isn’t involved with the income-tax system is somewhat odd and I’m not saying how much people should do, but we should all be part of the system. Stephen A. Schwarzman
After years of studying French in school, one of my professors said he’d really appreciate it if I didn’t take any more French. Stephen A. Schwarzman
When society starts moving in a way that becomes very negative, whether it’s in the West or any other place, I’ve always found that it’s very useful to have people around who actually know what’s happening. Stephen A. Schwarzman
When you lose control of risk at a financial institution, you do a variety of unfortunate credit extensions or purchases – and all of a sudden, you’ve blown up your business. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Dodd-Frank has disproportionately burdened community banks, despite their having no role in the financial crisis. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Markets tend to always overshoot when they get really ebullient. Stephen A. Schwarzman
The biggest mistake I’ve seen people make with their careers is, when they’re good, after two or three years – and they happen to be smart – they announce that they’re going out to start their own firm. Stephen A. Schwarzman
My biggest job really is to figure other people out. I need to understand what makes a person tick. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I love picking people. I started Blackstone, and we had no people, and now we have with our portfolio companies about 750,000 people all over the world. Everybody who is at a senior level has ultimately been picked by me. Stephen A. Schwarzman
We’re so overregulated as a country that we just crushed our productivity. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Education around entrepreneurship should start early, at secondary level, and be very robust by college level. Stephen A. Schwarzman
This country, of course, needs fundamental reform of our financial regulatory system, as I, and many other financial institution executives, have publicly advocated for a considerable period. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I was in an interdisciplinary major – which was a new thing then – which was psychology, sociology, anthropology, and biology, which is really sort of the study of the human being. Stephen A. Schwarzman
The best investments are the easiest ones to approve. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Live life intensely – I’ve always believed in that. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I’m pretty good on my feet. I’m pretty decent at bobbing and weaving, but there’s only so long you can bob and weave when you don’t have a good base. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Inaccurate analysis produces faulty insights and bad decisions – which lead to losing a tremendous amount of money. Stephen A. Schwarzman
We need to be able to identify and support young people who demonstrate interest and aptitude in entrepreneurship and business creation and give them tools to follow this path throughout their educational experience. Stephen A. Schwarzman
In the charitable world, I find myself giving to large projects that I think can make a large-scale impact. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I have no first-strike capability. I never choose to go into battle first. But I won’t back down. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I like being in warm weather. I find that relaxes me. I like being near water. I like sitting on a beach and sort of hearing the water, watching waves break, looking at the shimmering. I find that really relaxing. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I’m not feeling undertaxed. Tax reform is an important issue. You have to have an inherent sense of fairness. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Blackstone is not really a business per se. It’s a mission to be the best. Stephen A. Schwarzman
There’s usually room in the theme parks business for efficiencies on the cost side and new investment, which drives traffic. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Business is usually a team sport. There isn’t one great person sitting there directing things. You can’t run an effective business like that. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Every year, I speak to our new associates and give them this advice, although in my own words. ‘This isn’t like school,’ I tell them, ‘where you want to get your hand in the air and give an answer quickly. The only grade here is 100. Deadlines are important, but at Blackstone you can always get help in meeting them.’ Stephen A. Schwarzman
Sleeping at night is not a specialty of entrepreneurs. The entrepreneur who is sleeping soundly, something bad is happening to that person; they just don’t know it’s happening yet. Stephen A. Schwarzman
As long as you’re excellent, things work out for you. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Some of the people in finance touch enormous parts of the economy. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Most youth are lacking critical life skills that make them employable and, most importantly, able to keep a job – things like teamwork, decision-making, and time management. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Preparing youth for employment requires training that is demand-driven to meet the needs of companies and ensure that young people are taught marketable skills. Stephen A. Schwarzman
It’s important that we educate Americans about how hedge funds and private equity play completely different roles. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I’m a consistent little person. Stephen A. Schwarzman
When deals go wrong, you have no one else to blame, so you yell at yourself, and you yell at others. Stephen A. Schwarzman
There are no patents in finance. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I have a saying: There are no brave old people in finance. Because if you’re brave, you mostly get destroyed in your 30s and 40s. If you make it to your 50s and 60s and you’re still prospering, you have a very good sense of how to avoid problems and when to be conservative or aggressive with your investments. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I didn’t get to be successful by letting people hurt Blackstone or me. Stephen A. Schwarzman
In life, you’ll often find that having influence and providing sound advice is a good thing, even if it attracts criticism or requires some sacrifice. Stephen A. Schwarzman
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. Stephen A. Schwarzman
What you find when you live in the United States, you live in the West, is that when somebody fails, it’s never their fault. They always like to blame somebody other than themselves for a failure. Stephen A. Schwarzman
China on the world stage, in terms of interaction with the rest of the world, has been relatively very new due to the long isolation period until Deng Xiaoping’s times. Stephen A. Schwarzman
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. Stephen A. Schwarzman
My father was very bright. My mother had enormous drive. Put that together, and that’s my gene pool. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I’ve always been comfortable with people who run things, whether it was the principal of my high school or the president of the university. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Sometimes, success in life is knowing one’s limitations. Stephen A. Schwarzman
The Schwarzman Scholars is a program that was designed with Tsinghua University. They asked me to do something in honor of their 100th anniversary. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I don’t feel like a wealthy person. Other people think of me as a wealthy person, but I don’t. I feel the same as when I was a fifth-year associate trying to make partner at Lehman Brothers. I haven’t changed. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I grew up in a small town outside Philadelphia and went to the local high school, where I ran track all four years. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Deals really have to do with the overlap of what one side wants and the other side wants, and it’s really just the discovery of where that overlap is and how you decide to get there. Stephen A. Schwarzman
In the Catholic schools, they spend much less money than the public schools, and they get amazing results. Private schools spend much more money than the public schools, and they get remarkable results. Stephen A. Schwarzman
To the extent that I can add value and make my country a better place, that’s a good thing to do. Stephen A. Schwarzman
You can’t grow unless your banking system is expanding and you are extending credit. Stephen A. Schwarzman
It’s a great privilege to be asked to help the country – even if it occasionally comes with some degree of criticism. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I love things that cost nothing that have great results. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Don’t go into something you actually don’t know much about, in the hopes that you’re going to get really financially successful and rewarded… even though people think you’re, like, terrific. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Washington, D.C., puts enormous burdens on people who, at the end of the day, are just humans. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Ironically, when a bunch of very smart people are sitting around a table for hours trying to figure out whether they should do something, that tends to not necessarily lead to the best results. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Every day should be a good day. People fool themselves that they’ll be here forever. Stephen A. Schwarzman
If I get angry, it’s obvious. I don’t have to say much. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I’ve learned that all investments have risk. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Doing a me-too business, because it’s you – the only person who cares about that is you. The market doesn’t care if it’s you. The market is pretty much being served. You better have something that the world doesn’t have, because even then, you might screw it up through your own ineptitude and inexperience. Stephen A. Schwarzman
We need sobriety, rationality, and civility in the discussions on the regulation of financial institutions so that the banks can return in a robust manner to their central role in funding the economy. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Next to my mom, I’m actually a shrinking violet. Stephen A. Schwarzman
We have limited time, and we have to maximize it. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I always felt uncomfortable with real estate because buildings don’t move, and neighborhoods change. Stephen A. Schwarzman
One of the rules I’ve learned is that struggling to try and think your way into making an investment is usually the best way to not have a great outcome. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Blackstone is a major client of many of the largest banks around the world. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I love houses. I’m not sure why. Stephen A. Schwarzman
As you have more resources in life, it’s your obligation to deploy those for the benefit of others. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I chose to start Schwarzman Scholars because I saw the potential for the world to become focused and unhappy with China, in large part because of the populism that was growing throughout the world. Stephen A. Schwarzman
It’s wonderful to learn about new cultures and to be able to travel easily to so many countries. Stephen A. Schwarzman
When I was much younger, I realized that when I was handling something very large, and I was on my own doing that, that my breathing rate would increase, and that would affect my ability to think as well as I normally would. So when that starts happening, I slow down. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I like things with upside. That’s how you make money. Stephen A. Schwarzman
Paid leave is worth every penny. Stephen A. Schwarzman
The concept of fair value accounting is correct and useful, but the application during periods of crisis is problematic. It’s another one of those unintended consequences of making a rule that’s supposed to be good that turns out the other way. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I like creating new things. Stephen A. Schwarzman
I didn’t want to be a retailer. I hated to wait on people. Stephen A. Schwarzman
My first trip to China was 1990, and that was in a world where there were virtually no cars at all on the road, and everybody had bicycles. Stephen A. Schwarzman
The Internet has turned everybody into a global person, whether they know it or not. Stephen A. Schwarzman
