--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought at the time that I wanted to go…" description: "\"I thought at the time that I wanted to go into institutional sales, selling stocks and bonds to institutions. In those days, which was the 1960s, the i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/henry-kravis-18319_1960s_i-thought-at-the-time-that-i-wanted-to-g_2996621.png" --- # I thought at the time that I wanted to go into… ![“I thought at the time that I wanted to go into institutional sales, selling stocks and bonds to institutions. In those days, which was the 1960s, the institutional salesman was making about $100,000 a year. I thought that was just an enormous amount of money.” quote by Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/henry-kravis-18319_1960s_i-thought-at-the-time-that-i-wanted-to-g_2996621.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/henry-kravis-18319_1960s_i-thought-at-the-time-that-i-wanted-to-g_2996621.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/henry-kravis-18319_1960s_i-thought-at-the-time-that-i-wanted-to-g_2996621.png) > “I thought at the time that I wanted to go into institutional sales, selling stocks and bonds to institutions. In those days, which was the 1960s, the institutional salesman was making about $100,000 a year. I thought that was just an enormous amount of money.” [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He believed high earnings in 1960s institutional sales were extraordinary, reflecting the era’s lucrative finance sector. **In simple terms:** Big salaries seemed huge then. Key Takeaway Recognize changing market values. Themes finance career perception Mood analytical contemplative Type advice reflective When to use this quote - investment banking - career planning - salary negotiation - historical comparison Key Concepts economic history career motivation Questions to Reflect On - What drives your career choices? - How do you assess long‑term value of earnings? A Different Perspective High pay can be fleeting; market shifts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Salesman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salesman/) [Selling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selling/) [Ties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ties/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [One of the best predictors of ultimate success in either sales or non - sales selling isn't natural talent or even industry expertise, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/one-of-the-best-predictors-of-ultimate-success-in-either-sales-or-non/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [The ability to take another perspective has become one of the keys to both sales and non-sales selling. And the social science research on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-ability-to-take-another-perspective-has-become-one-of-the-keys-to/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [It never was my thinking that made the big money for me. It always was my sitting. Got that? My sitting tight! It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-lefevre/it-never-was-my-thinking-that-made-the-big-money-for-me-it-always-was-2/) [Edwin Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-lefevre/) > [When it comes to selling stocks, it is plain that nobody can sell unless somebody wants those stocks.If you operate on a large scale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-lefevre/when-it-comes-to-selling-stocks-it-is-plain-that-nobody-can-sell/) [Edwin Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-lefevre/) > [Selling real estate isn't like selling stock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/selling-real-estate-isn-t-like-selling-stock/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [No man can always have adequate reasons for buying or selling stocks daily - or sufficient knowledge to make his play an intelligent play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-lefevre/no-man-can-always-have-adequate-reasons-for-buying-or-selling-stocks/) [Edwin Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-lefevre/) > [I was working in financing. I was buying and selling stocks for a market-maker on the options floor at the Pacific Stock Exchange. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kang/i-was-working-in-financing-i-was-buying-and-selling-stocks-for-a/) [Tim Kang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kang/) > [ The classes of problems which are respectively known and not known to have good algorithms are of great theoretical interest. \[...\] I conjecture that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-edmonds/the-classes-of-problems-which-are-respectively-known-and-not-known-to/) [Jack Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-edmonds/) > [“If you’re subjected to enough great salesmen and salespitches and marketing concepts for long enough—like from your earliest Saturday-morning cartoons, let’s say—it is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/if-you-re-subjected-to-enough-great-salesmen-and-salespitches-and/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [But the fascinating and unbelievable-but-true thing about Dr. Jefferson Jeffersonis that he was not a doctor of any kind. He was just an orange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/but-the-fascinating-and-unbelievable-but-true-thing-about-dr/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Jobs' incredible skill was as a storyteller, a salesman. He could captivate our imaginations and reel us in. He was more P.T. Barnum than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-gibney/jobs-incredible-skill-was-as-a-storyteller-a-salesman-he-could/) [Alex Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-gibney/) > [As more Americans meet Mitt Romney, I think they'll see beyond the handsome exterior and see not just a good salesman, but a thoughtful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-jean-lopez/as-more-americans-meet-mitt-romney-i-think-they-ll-see-beyond-the/) Kathryn Jean Lopez > [We have this perceived illusion of what the fashion designer does. As an industry, we make it out that this one individual changes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-anderson/we-have-this-perceived-illusion-of-what-the-fashion-designer-does-as/) [Jonathan Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-anderson/) > [So the poet, who wants to be something that he cannot be, and is a failure in plain life, makes up fictitious versions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/so-the-poet-who-wants-to-be-something-that-he-cannot-be-and-is-a/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [“Salesmanship is usually the art of making it the prospect’s problem, the salesperson’s need or desire to earn money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/salesmanship-is-usually-the-art-of-making-it-the-prospect-s-problem/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) ## More by Henry Kravis > [Giving back is something that comes from the heart to me. It's not that I do it because it's the right thing: I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/giving-back-is-something-that-comes-from-the-heart-to-me-it-s-not/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [In the large buy out space, which is where we (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) focus our efforts, there are relatively few firms with the capital,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/in-the-large-buy-out-space-which-is-where-we-kohlberg-kravis-roberts/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [A real entrepreneur is somebody who has no safety net underneath them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/a-real-entrepreneur-is-somebody-who-has-no-safety-net-underneath-them/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [The trouble, in my opinion, with corporate America today, is that everything is thought of in quarters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/the-trouble-in-my-opinion-with-corporate-america-today-is-that/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [As I said there is nothing wrong with failing. Pick yourself up and try it again. You never are going to know how good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/as-i-said-there-is-nothing-wrong-with-failing-pick-yourself-up-and/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [Look, don't congratulate us when we buy a company, congratulate us when we sell it. Because any fool can overpay and buy a company,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/look-don-t-congratulate-us-when-we-buy-a-company-congratulate-us-when/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [One, I love the creativity. I love the ability to create a capital structure that is appropriate for a company, no matter what field…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/one-i-love-the-creativity-i-love-the-ability-to-create-a-capital/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [You only have one thing to sell in life, and that's yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/you-only-have-one-thing-to-sell-in-life-and-that-s-yourself/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [I love the ability to work with very good managers, and to provide the right incentives for them, and truly become a partner with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/i-love-the-ability-to-work-with-very-good-managers-and-to-provide-the/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [It used to be that you would go in to see a CEO, and you would ask them, 'Is your company for sale?' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/it-used-to-be-that-you-would-go-in-to-see-a-ceo-and-you-would-ask/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [To understand KKR, I always like to say, don't congratulate us when we buy a company. Any fool can buy a company. Congratulate us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/to-understand-kkr-i-always-like-to-say-don-t-congratulate-us-when-we/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [Our industry expertise (at KKR) enables the firm not only to make better investment choices but also to win the confidence of senior management…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/our-industry-expertise-at-kkr-enables-the-firm-not-only-to-make/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [But once you buy a company, you are married. You are married to that company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/but-once-you-buy-a-company-you-are-married-you-are-married-to-that/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [We've got a portfolio of companies that range all the way from hotels to television stations and cable TV companies, oil and gas, consumer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/we-ve-got-a-portfolio-of-companies-that-range-all-the-way-from-hotels/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [Whales who come up and spout off get harpooned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/whales-who-come-up-and-spout-off-get-harpooned/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) [Explore all 35 Henry Kravis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) ## More 1960s quotes > [We do need different types of propulsion to get to Mars. I wrote one of the first Ph.D. theses on that in the 1960s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-do-need-different-types-of-propulsion-to-get-to-mars-i-wrote-one/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Each year more than 100,000 high school graduates, with proved ability, do not enter college because they cannot afford it. And if we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/each-year-more-than-100-000-high-school-graduates-with-proved-ability/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Nearly all the writing of our time is likely to disappear in a hundred years. Certainly most readers - and nearly all critics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dirda/nearly-all-the-writing-of-our-time-is-likely-to-disappear-in-a/) [Michael Dirda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dirda/) > [Sometimes a party must sail against the wind. 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When people worry about the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/i-think-the-general-anxiety-of-the-1960s-70s-spawned-our-interest-in/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [“A friend once told me a story about a former Black Panther leader in a Midwest community who in the 1960s had his phone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-j-rodr-guez/a-friend-once-told-me-a-story-about-a-former-black-panther-leader-in/) [Luis J. Rodríguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-j-rodr-guez/) > [I was never bothered about my position in the industry. If I had believed in it, I wouldn't have allowed anyone to get ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/i-was-never-bothered-about-my-position-in-the-industry-if-i-had/) [Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/) > [Under the system that we now have to nominate presidential candidates, for instance, I would prefer that we have a system that is closer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/under-the-system-that-we-now-have-to-nominate-presidential-candidates/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [My son Bill, who came to me in 1960-he was 14 then, quoted the old parable to me: "It is not by their words,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/my-son-bill-who-came-to-me-in-1960-he-was-14-then-quoted-the-old/) [Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/) > [There is a book called San Francisco Tape Music Centre:1960s Counterculture and the Avant-Garde and this book describes everything that you want to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-oliveros/there-is-a-book-called-san-francisco-tape-music-centre-1960s/) [Pauline Oliveros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-oliveros/) > [Much of the art of the 1960s, from body art to video and direct performance, was concerned with similar issues. 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When I graduated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-prose/i-went-through-college-in-the-1960s-without-having-any-idea-that-i/) [Francine Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-prose/) > [“At the beginning of a decade when everything was beginning to seem possible, nothing seemed impossible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-lee-shetterly/at-the-beginning-of-a-decade-when-everything-was-beginning-to-seem/) [Margot Lee Shetterly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-lee-shetterly/) Browse all 486 1960s quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought at the time that I wanted to go into institutional sales, selling stocks and bonds to institutions. In those days, which was the 1960s, the institutional salesman was making about $100,000 a year. 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