Based Quote by Ben Horowitz
“John D. Rockefeller said that he found friendships based on business to be far more long lasting and profitable than the reverse. I think there's something to that. A company can end up being very Confucian, where the good of the individual is subjugated to the good of the whole.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Hard Thing About Hard Things, 2014
Rockefeller valued business-based friendships for durability and profit, suggesting corporate culture can prioritize collective good over individual.
In simple terms: Business friendships last longer and are more profitable; companies may favor group over individual.
Key Takeaway
Balance personal and corporate interests.
Themes
business
friendship
corporate culture
collectivism
profit
Mood
pragmatic
reflective
Type
business
philosophical
When to use this quote
- startup leadership
- team building
- strategic partnerships
Key Concepts
networking
long‑term value
organizational ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do business ties affect personal integrity?
- When should individual needs outweigh corporate goals?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on collectivism may suppress individuality.
![“[John D. Rockefeller] didn't care about anyone he did anything just to be rich and be the only company standing without any competition. He destroyed anyone else.” quote by Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cd8/ida-tarbell-15988_care_john-d-rockefeller-didn-t-care-about-any_876639.jpg)
