David Rockefeller

I never kept a diary, but I wrote detailed notes of my travels.

Father was the eldest son and the heir apparent, and he set the standard for being a Rockefeller very high, so every achievement was taken for granted and perfection was the norm.

Money can add very much to one's ability to lead a constructive life, not only pleasant for oneself, but, hopefully, beneficial to others.

Mother's taste was eclectic and ranged from the ancient world to the contemporary from Europe to the U.S.

I am a passionate traveler, and from the time I was a child, travel formed me as much as my formal education.

As children we recognized that we belonged to an unusual, even exceptional, family, but the effect was different on each of us.

I suspect that many corporations have begun to understand that they have an important role to play in the lives of their communities, and that allocating funds to support local groups helps them discharge that function and also burnish their image.

I learned more from my mother than from all the art historians and curators who have informed me about technical aspects of art history and art appreciation over the years.

You know, gentlemen, that I do not owe any personal income tax. But nevertheless, I send a small check, now and then, to the Internal Revenue Service out of the kindness of my heart.

A museum has to renew its collection to be alive, but that does not mean we give on important old works.

By a museum, I assume you mean an institution dedicated to the events of Sept. 11 and the aftermath. If that is done with sensitivity, I think it would be most appropriate.

Eventually, most people felt MoMA had filled a very important gap.

I believe that government is the servant of the people and not their master.

I can only say that I have had a wonderful life.

I do not like to be unkind.

I hope the Guggenheim plan will be revived.

I think I am basically a happy person.

I owe much to mother. She had an expert's understanding, but also approached art emotionally.

The Japanese have a wonderful sense of design and a refinement in their art. They try to produce beautiful paintings with the minimum number of strokes.

I think of art as the highest level of creativity. To me, it is one of the greatest sources of enjoyment.

The role of a museum of modern art is to make a good selection and identify what we believe to be the coming movements, and that requires taste.