David Geffen

[On his mother’s adversity] She had a very difficult beginning… All of my mothers family were killed… and she came to America at the time of the depression. It was not an easy life at all.

In my experience, there was never anything quite like the egos in CSNY.

I had worked for Warner Brothers most of my adult life, and I was totally enthralled by the world that this guy had created. So I bought the house. And I sold Warner Brothers all the scripts, the Oscars, the mementoes for $3 million, which they’re going to use for a museum. I sold some of the rest of the stuff for $7 million. And I kept millions of dollars of furniture and silver. So I was really paying about $34 million for prime Beverly Hills property.

I never went to business school. I was just bumbling through a lot of my life. I was like the guy behind the curtain in The Wizard of Oz.

[On his early day in the music business] I stepped on a lot of toes… at that time.

Anybody who thinks money will make you happy, hasn’t got money.

Do not let anyone tell you it cannot be done. No challenge can match the heart and fight and spirit of America. We will not fail. Our country will thrive and prosper again.

‘Someday’ is the day after you die.

Dream big dreams. Only big dreams have the power to move men’s souls.

How you see the future is much more important than what happened in your past.

Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.

You cannot push anyone up the ladder unless he is willing to climb.

The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that is how we grow.

Dream big and kick ass.

Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.

Security represents your sense of worth, your identity, your emotional anchorage, your self-esteem, your basic personal strength or lack of it.

We’ve realized the situation will not change so the answer is for us to change.

There are secret opportunities hidden inside every failure.

No wise man ever wished to be younger.

Be so good they can’t ignore you.