--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Throughout U.S. history, competent public…" description: "\"Throughout U.S. history, competent public investments have been an essential complement to private investments - from the Louisiana Purchase, to land-g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/felix-rohatyn-31493_been_throughout-u-s-history-competent-public_2632213.png" --- # Throughout U.S. history, competent public investments have… ![“Throughout U.S. history, competent public investments have been an essential complement to private investments - from the Louisiana Purchase, to land-grant colleges, to the Interstate Highway System, to the Internet.” quote by Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/felix-rohatyn-31493_been_throughout-u-s-history-competent-public_2632213.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/felix-rohatyn-31493_been_throughout-u-s-history-competent-public_2632213.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/felix-rohatyn-31493_been_throughout-u-s-history-competent-public_2632213.png) > “Throughout U.S. history, competent public investments have been an essential complement to private investments - from the Louisiana Purchase, to land-grant colleges, to the Interstate Highway System, to the Internet.” [Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Public investment works alongside private capital to drive national growth and innovation. **In simple terms:** Government spending supports private sector progress. Key Takeaway Leverage public funds to boost private initiatives. Themes economics public policy infrastructure Mood analytical optimistic Type historical policy. When to use this quote - urban planning - education funding - technology rollout - transport projects Key Concepts public-private partnership economic development strategic investment Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure public projects serve long‑term public good? - What safeguards prevent wasteful spending? A Different Perspective Public investment can be misallocated or politicized, reducing effectiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Colleges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colleges/) [Competent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competent/) [Competent Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competent-public-2199187/) [Complement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complement/) [Essential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essential/) [Highway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highway/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Investments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investments/) [Investments Essential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investments-essential-2199186/) [Investments Louisiana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investments-louisiana-2199188/) [Louisiana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/louisiana/) [Private](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private/) [Private Investments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-investments-1593875/) [Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public/) [Public Investments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-investments-2182194/) [Purchase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purchase/) [System](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/system/) [Throughout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throughout/) ## Related quotes > [At equal returns, public investments are generally superior to private investments not only because they are more liquid but also because amidst distress, public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/at-equal-returns-public-investments-are-generally-superior-to-private/) [Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/) > [5 opens with the promise of a number of substantial direct private investments that can swiftly transform the economy and set all sectors on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baldwin-spencer/5-opens-with-the-promise-of-a-number-of-substantial-direct-private/) [Baldwin Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baldwin-spencer/) > [America's government has to get the public investments right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/america-s-government-has-to-get-the-public-investments-right/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [I believe with all my heart that bold, public investments in care for people, communities, and the environment can anchor the rebirth of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaal-bowman/i-believe-with-all-my-heart-that-bold-public-investments-in-care-for/) [Jamaal Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaal-bowman/) > [By making all my materials freely available through 'Giving 2.0' ProjectU, I am on a mission to extend philanthropy education to colleges globally and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-arrillaga-andreessen/by-making-all-my-materials-freely-available-through-giving-2-0/) [Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-arrillaga-andreessen/) > [We are looking for targets that have a tremendous strategic fit for the company. The colleges must have complementary education programs, have an excellent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-larson/we-are-looking-for-targets-that-have-a-tremendous-strategic-fit-for/) [John Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-larson/) > [Young adults enrolled in universities and colleges or other postsecondary training should avail themselves of the opportunity to take institute of religion courses or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/young-adults-enrolled-in-universities-and-colleges-or-other/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [All the colleges I played, most of the colleges, they were white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smith/all-the-colleges-i-played-most-of-the-colleges-they-were-white/) [Jimmy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smith/) > [Colleges must do their part to keep costs down, and its our job to make sure they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/colleges-must-do-their-part-to-keep-costs-down-and-its-our-job-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Community colleges are great bargains. They avoid the fancy amenities four-year liberal arts colleges need in order to lure the children of the middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/community-colleges-are-great-bargains-they-avoid-the-fancy-amenities/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [I came from a Hindi medium school... the principal felt that I would not fit into an English medium college. Though I was top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakshmi-mittal/i-came-from-a-hindi-medium-school-the-principal-felt-that-i-would-not/) [Lakshmi Mittal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lakshmi-mittal/) > [Community colleges are the way of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-biden/community-colleges-are-the-way-of-the-future/) [Jill Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-biden/) > [There were male colleges, and there were very few female colleges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-smith/there-were-male-colleges-and-there-were-very-few-female-colleges/) [Maggie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-smith/) > [Community colleges provide higher education where people live, helping to build strong ladders of opportunity that allow people to secure a foothold in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-perez/community-colleges-provide-higher-education-where-people-live-helping/) [Thomas Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-perez/) > [When comics came along in the 1930s there was a talent pool waiting. And one reason is so many areas were closed to Jews.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-robinson/when-comics-came-along-in-the-1930s-there-was-a-talent-pool-waiting/) [Jerry Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-robinson/) ## More by Felix Rohatyn > [What is desperately needed... is the skepticism and the sense of history that a liberal arts education provides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/what-is-desperately-needed-is-the-skepticism-and-the-sense-of-history/) [Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) > [I think there are two areas where new ideas are terribly dangerous: economics and sex. By and large, it's all been tried, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/i-think-there-are-two-areas-where-new-ideas-are-terribly-dangerous/) [Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) > [Hillary Brown understands that?for our grandchildren's sake?we must rebuild America and, in doing so, re-imagine our interconnected infrastructure systems to make them more efficient,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/hillary-brown-understands-that-for-our-grandchildren-s-sake-we-must/) [Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) > [I am a capitalist and I believe in making a profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/i-am-a-capitalist-and-i-believe-in-making-a-profit/) [Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) > [Investment banking is not a business; it is a personal service where bankers work hand in hand with their clients. And it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/investment-banking-is-not-a-business-it-is-a-personal-service-where/) [Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) > [At its core, banking is not simply about profit, but about personal relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/at-its-core-banking-is-not-simply-about-profit-but-about-personal/) [Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) > [Democracy cannot flourish half rich and half poor, any more than it can flourish half free and half slave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/democracy-cannot-flourish-half-rich-and-half-poor-any-more-than-it/) [Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) > [Fairness does not require the redistribution of wealth; it requires the creation of wealth, geared to an economy that can provide employment for everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/fairness-does-not-require-the-redistribution-of-wealth-it-requires/) [Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) > [Beware of lawyers and consultants and people who do not take risks and who do not get their hands dirty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/beware-of-lawyers-and-consultants-and-people-who-do-not-take-risks/) [Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) > [The early years of my life were very, very traumatic. It was scary, because any child knew that death was sort of lurking around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/the-early-years-of-my-life-were-very-very-traumatic-it-was-scary/) [Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) > [In the 1970s, New York City avoided bankruptcy because wise political leaders like Gov. Hugh L. Carey believed both in strong labor unions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/in-the-1970s-new-york-city-avoided-bankruptcy-because-wise-political/) [Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) > [The whole market mechanism and its evolution is something that, I'm kind of of the Buffett School. You know, if I see a derivative,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/the-whole-market-mechanism-and-its-evolution-is-something-that-i-m/) [Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) > [Saving New York City from bankruptcy is like making love to a gorilla. You don't stop when you're tired; you stop when he's tired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/saving-new-york-city-from-bankruptcy-is-like-making-love-to-a-gorilla/) [Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) > [Financial hydrogen bombs built on personal computers by 26-year-olds with MBAs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/financial-hydrogen-bombs-built-on-personal-computers-by-26-year-olds/) [Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) > [Success in business, as in life, is often largely just a matter of luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/success-in-business-as-in-life-is-often-largely-just-a-matter-of-luck/) [Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) [Explore all 16 Felix Rohatyn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) ## More Been quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) [Browse all 13,699 Been quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Throughout U.S. history, competent public investments have been an essential complement to private investments - from the Louisiana Purchase, to land-grant colleges, to the Interstate Highway System, to the Internet.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Felix Rohatyn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/throughout-u-s-history-competent-public-investments-have-been-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Been" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/throughout-u-s-history-competent-public-investments-have-been-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/felix-rohatyn-31493_been_throughout-u-s-history-competent-public_2632213.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/felix-rohatyn-31493_been_throughout-u-s-history-competent-public_2632213.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/felix-rohatyn-31493_been_throughout-u-s-history-competent-public_2632213.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Throughout U.S. history, competent public investments have been an essential complement to private…” — Felix Rohatyn", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Felix Rohatyn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Throughout U.S. history, competent public investments...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/throughout-u-s-history-competent-public-investments-have-been-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/throughout-u-s-history-competent-public-investments-have-been-an/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```