--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a literal sense, even a private…" description: "\"In a literal sense, even a private company, of course, cannot do everything that it wants without some discussion with government. As a good corporate ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/alexei-mordashov-31680_business_in-a-literal-sense-even-a-private-compan_2041921.jpg" --- # In a literal sense, even a private company, of course… ![“In a literal sense, even a private company, of course, cannot do everything that it wants without some discussion with government. As a good corporate citizen, Severstal discussed the idea of a merger with Arcelor with the Russian government.” quote by Alexei Mordashov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/alexei-mordashov-31680_business_in-a-literal-sense-even-a-private-compan_2041921.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/alexei-mordashov-31680_business_in-a-literal-sense-even-a-private-compan_2041921.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/alexei-mordashov-31680_business_in-a-literal-sense-even-a-private-compan_2041921.jpg) > “In a literal sense, even a private company, of course, cannot do everything that it wants without some discussion with government. As a good corporate citizen, Severstal discussed the idea of a merger with Arcelor with the Russian government.” [Alexei Mordashov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-mordashov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Companies must engage with government when their actions affect national interests or regulations. **In simple terms:** Businesses need government dialogue for major moves. Key Takeaway Seek government input on strategic decisions. Themes corporate responsibility government relations strategic planning Mood cautious pragmatic Type strategic policy‑oriented When to use this quote - merger negotiations - expansion plans - policy advocacy - risk assessment Key Concepts regulatory compliance public policy stakeholder management Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance profit goals with public accountability? - What risks arise from political involvement? A Different Perspective Government may impose constraints that limit flexibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Corporate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporate/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Russian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russian/) ## Related quotes > [One of the reasons some of the advocates of ever larger government and more government intrusiveness get nervous about discussions of the actual cost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/one-of-the-reasons-some-of-the-advocates-of-ever-larger-government/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [It's my job that if somebody wants to have a discussion about something, I'm certainly sensitive to that, and I'm willing to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/it-s-my-job-that-if-somebody-wants-to-have-a-discussion-about/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [Regarding our links with the Russian government, Severstal is a private company with no government participation. We are answerable to our shareholders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-mordashov/regarding-our-links-with-the-russian-government-severstal-is-a/) [Alexei Mordashov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-mordashov/) > [In Silicon Valley, when you're a private company, the entrepreneur can do no wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/in-silicon-valley-when-you-re-a-private-company-the-entrepreneur-can/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [There are certainly valid reasons for taking a company private, and it's also possible that C.E.O.s perform better when monitored by a small number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/there-are-certainly-valid-reasons-for-taking-a-company-private-and-it/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [It is much more convenient not to be a public company. As a private company you don't have to give information to the public.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-rich/it-is-much-more-convenient-not-to-be-a-public-company-as-a-private/) [Marc Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-rich/) > [For the first time in history, a private company is organizing a mission to the moon. This mission will inspire countries of the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-the-first-time-in-history-a-private-company-is-organizing-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have never run a public company. I spent my entire life working for a private company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ovitz/i-have-never-run-a-public-company-i-spent-my-entire-life-working-for/) [Michael Ovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ovitz/) > [I love being a private company. I don't ever want to be forced to not do the things I need to do to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendra-scott/i-love-being-a-private-company-i-don-t-ever-want-to-be-forced-to-not/) [Kendra Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendra-scott/) > [ They \[the Kochs\] want free trade and cheap labour. They own the second-largest private company in America, which is a huge multinational corporation. So… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/they-the-kochs-want-free-trade-and-cheap-labour-they-own-the-second/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [The first colony on Mars is not going to be built by a private company. How are you going to make money? You're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-first-colony-on-mars-is-not-going-to-be-built-by-a-private/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [There's a long history of private-company cooperation with the NSA that dates back to at least the 1970s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/there-s-a-long-history-of-private-company-cooperation-with-the-nsa/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [I think that's the beauty of being a private company: you get to choose when you disclose something. You can play it in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-being-a-private-company-you-get-to/) [Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/) > [One of the nice things about being a private company is operating without the intensity of public glare. It's hard to grow a company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/one-of-the-nice-things-about-being-a-private-company-is-operating/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [When he ran a private company, one he owned, Trump could command all its constituent parts to do his bidding and make the rules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-t-conway-iii/when-he-ran-a-private-company-one-he-owned-trump-could-command-all/) [George T. Conway III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-t-conway-iii/) ## More by Alexei Mordashov > [What you need to keep most in the U.S. is the entrepreneurial spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-mordashov/what-you-need-to-keep-most-in-the-u-s-is-the-entrepreneurial-spirit/) [Alexei Mordashov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-mordashov/) > [Regarding our links with the Russian government, Severstal is a private company with no government participation. We are answerable to our shareholders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-mordashov/regarding-our-links-with-the-russian-government-severstal-is-a/) [Alexei Mordashov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-mordashov/) > [We believe that the business system only is the key to success. It's no miracle, only day-to-day work in the appropriate way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-mordashov/we-believe-that-the-business-system-only-is-the-key-to-success-it-s/) [Alexei Mordashov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-mordashov/) > [I don't have any opinions about Russians. There are celebrity persons in each country. Different people do different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-mordashov/i-don-t-have-any-opinions-about-russians-there-are-celebrity-persons/) [Alexei Mordashov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-mordashov/) > [Building companies involves creating great wealth. If that means I am an oligarch, OK, it's fine. 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I graduated from the business school of Northumberland University in Newcastle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-mordashov/well-i-graduated-from-the-business-school-of-northumberland/) [Alexei Mordashov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-mordashov/) > [Russia is not a homogenous country; it's a very fragmented country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-mordashov/russia-is-not-a-homogenous-country-it-s-a-very-fragmented-country/) [Alexei Mordashov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-mordashov/) > [When we put $4 billion into the U.S. economy, they were OK with this. When we preserved jobs in Dearborn, or preserved jobs in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-mordashov/when-we-put-4-billion-into-the-u-s-economy-they-were-ok-with-this/) [Alexei Mordashov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-mordashov/) > [It is a very big exaggeration to say I am a friend of Mr. Putin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-mordashov/it-is-a-very-big-exaggeration-to-say-i-am-a-friend-of-mr-putin/) [Alexei Mordashov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-mordashov/) > [People were expecting Rouge to go bankrupt, so there was a lot of anxiety. The corporate culture problem was even worse than in Russia.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-mordashov/people-were-expecting-rouge-to-go-bankrupt-so-there-was-a-lot-of/) [Alexei Mordashov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-mordashov/) > [The steel business is a local business. We do believe in the U.S. economy and would like to have a strong, balanced presence here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-mordashov/the-steel-business-is-a-local-business-we-do-believe-in-the-u-s/) [Alexei Mordashov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-mordashov/) > [My wealth is reflected in the price of Severstal, and the number of shares I have in my possession doesn't have any impact on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-mordashov/my-wealth-is-reflected-in-the-price-of-severstal-and-the-number-of/) [Alexei Mordashov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-mordashov/) > [The future is in green energy; it's in making steel for energy-efficient cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-mordashov/the-future-is-in-green-energy-it-s-in-making-steel-for-energy/) [Alexei Mordashov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-mordashov/) > [We appreciate size, but only if it is robust growth. Just to be big is not a target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-mordashov/we-appreciate-size-but-only-if-it-is-robust-growth-just-to-be-big-is/) [Alexei Mordashov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-mordashov/) [Explore all 16 Alexei Mordashov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-mordashov/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. 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It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. 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