Beauty pageant Quote by Timothy L. O'Brien
““Other members of Manhattan’s real estate elite preferred anonymity and usually disdained slapping their names on their buildings. They didn’t buy football teams or airlines or casinos or beauty pageants. They simply built, waited patiently to get rich, and donated huge sums to philanthropies. For the most part, no one in this crowd considered Donald a peer, either in terms of his tastes or his accomplishments. The Rockefellers, assessing Donald at his peak, dismissed him.””
About This Quote
Source Article: Business and Power, Timothy L. O'Brien, 2018
Elite real‑estate figures prefer quiet wealth building over flashy ventures, often overlooking unconventional peers.
In simple terms: They build quietly, avoid fame, and ignore outsiders.
Key Takeaway
Recognize diverse paths to success.
Themes
wealth
privacy
elitism
social perception
networking
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
journalistic
observational
When to use this quote
- investment strategy
- social networking
- philanthropy
- career planning
Key Concepts
sociology
economics
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does anonymity affect influence?
- What value lies in unconventional success?
A Different Perspective
Bias can blind them to innovative talent.
![“[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)
![“My final comment is that I still believe this man [John D. Rockefeller] is corrupt and he used unfair ways to become wealthy, all he cared about was his money and wasn't considered.” quote by Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d33/ida-tarbell-15988_believe_my-final-comment-is-that-i-still-believe_2582376.jpg)
