Quotes by J. Paul Getty

“In some respects, a society in which the members reach a universal level in which they are anonymous drones by choice is even more frightening than one in which they are forced to be so against the...”

“The conformist is not born. He is made. I believe the brainwashing process begins in the schools and colleges.”

“There is obviously something wrong with our educational system. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that there might even be something wrong with at least some of our schoolteachers. But heav...”

“In my own opinion, the average American's cultural shortcomings can be likened to those of the educated barbarians of ancient Rome. These were barbarians who learned to speak--and often to read and...”

“It has always been my contention that an individual who can be relied upon to be himself and to be honest unto himself can be relied upon in every other way.”

“My evanescent anarchistic tendencies are purely classical. I use the word anarchist in the sense in which it was understood by the ancient Greeks. They, of course, accepted the anarchist as a fairl...”

“The majority is by no means omniscient just because it is the majority. In fact, I've found that the line which divides majority opinion from mass hysteria is often so fine as to be virtually invis...”

“There is, however, hope for any person who wants to remain an individual. He can assert himself and refuse to conform. He'll be on his own, that's true, but while he will not have the security enjo...”

“There are one hundred men seeking security to one able man who is willing to risk his fortune.”

“I hate to be a failure. I hate and regret the failure of my marriages. I would gladly give all my millions for just one lasting marital success.”

“My love of fine art increased - the more of it I saw, the more of it I wanted to see.”

“A hatred of failure has always been part of my nature.”

“Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil.”

“Going to work for a large company is like getting on a train. Are you going sixty miles an hour or is the train going sixty miles an hour and you're just sitting still?”

“In Japan, I was immensely impressed by the politeness, industrious nature and conscientiousness of the Japanese people.”

“In times of rapid change, experience could be your worst enemy.”

“The employer generally gets the employees he deserves.”

“Money is like manure. You have to spread it around or it smells.”

“A marriage contract to me is as binding as any in business, and I have always believed in sticking to an agreement.”

“I have never been given to envy - save for the envy I feel toward those people who have the ability to make a marriage work and endure happily.”