I was in an interdisciplinary major - which was a new thing then - which was psychology, sociology, anthropology, and biology, which is really sort of the study of the human being.
When society starts moving in a way that becomes very negative, whether it's in the West or any other place, I've always found that it's very useful to have people around who actually know what's happening.
We need to be able to identify and support young people who demonstrate interest and aptitude in entrepreneurship and business creation and give them tools to follow this path throughout their educational experience.
Every year, I speak to our new associates and give them this advice, although in my own words. 'This isn't like school,' I tell them, 'where you want to get your hand in the air and give an answer quickly. The only grade here is 100. Deadlines are important, but at Blackstone you can always get help in meeting them.'
You can't grow unless your banking system is expanding and you are extending credit.
The biggest mistake I've seen people make with their careers is, when they're good, after two or three years - and they happen to be smart - they announce that they're going out to start their own firm.
Dodd-Frank has disproportionately burdened community banks, despite their having no role in the financial crisis.
In the Catholic schools, they spend much less money than the public schools, and they get amazing results. Private schools spend much more money than the public schools, and they get remarkable results.
Education around entrepreneurship should start early, at secondary level, and be very robust by college level.
As you have more resources in life, it's your obligation to deploy those for the benefit of others.
There's usually room in the theme parks business for efficiencies on the cost side and new investment, which drives traffic.
When you lose control of risk at a financial institution, you do a variety of unfortunate credit extensions or purchases - and all of a sudden, you've blown up your business.
Inaccurate analysis produces faulty insights and bad decisions - which lead to losing a tremendous amount of money.
The language skill in the U.S. for the most part has been awful. Many Americans don't learn any foreign language.
Part of China's strategic planning is to make their universities among the top level of the world, and I think they understand you can't do that without the adoption of some of the principles of the great universities in the West; one of those is the ability to have free expression and discussion in the classroom.
For future geopolitical stability and global prosperity, we need to build a culture of greater trust and understanding between China, America and the rest of the world.
Business is usually a team sport. There isn't one great person sitting there directing things. You can't run an effective business like that.
I love things that cost nothing that have great results.
It's important that we educate Americans about how hedge funds and private equity play completely different roles.
I'm not feeling undertaxed. Tax reform is an important issue. You have to have an inherent sense of fairness.
