“I knew what it was like to be poor, and that once you had become rich, anything was better than being poor again.”

“As André and I left for South America, the newspaper boys were screaming headlines like: 'Stocks Collapse: Nationwide stampede to unload'; 'Unexpected torrent of liquidation'; and 'Two and a half billion in savings lost'. The worst part was the stories of ruined businessmen leaping from windows thirty storeys high and from the Brooklyn Bridge.'If they calmed down things would stabilise faster. They might even see opportunities for fortunes to be made,' said André.I nodded my agreement. But I knew something that André didn't; something those businessmen might have known too. I knew what it was like to be poor--and that once you had become rich, anything was better than being poor again.”

“They say it is better to be poor and happy than rich and miserable, but how about a compromise like moderately rich and just moody?”

“Don't forget that most men with nothing would rather protect the possibility of becoming rich than face the reality of being poor.”

“It is better to be rich, happy and healthy, rather than poor, miserable and sick!”

“No one described him better than he did when someone accused him of being rich. “No, not rich,” he said. “I am a poor man with money, which is not the same thing.”