David Rockefeller

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.

They decided to establish a museum of modern art where works by contemporary artists would be shown. Mother was viewed as a very progressive person, and not everybody liked the paintings she bought.

Mother’s interest in contemporary American artists emerged during the 1920s.

Philanthropy is involved with basic innovations that transform society, not simply maintaining the status quo or filling basic social needs that were formerly the province of the public sector.

I think I am basically a happy person.

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

The essence of all Art is to have pleasure in giving pleasure.

There is only 1 difference between a madman and me. I am not mad.

In the field of art, to be able to have lunch with Kirk Varnedoe is thrilling. I met him at Si and Victoria Newhouse’s dinner one night. Barnett Newman’s widow was there. That’s the part of me that’s a fan. Like when I was a kid and went to the Brooklyn Paramount. Well, my interest has expanded, and it’s not just rock-and-roll.

There is nothing new… everything has roots in the past.

Have no fear of perfection. You’ll never reach it.

He knows all about art, but he doesn’t know what he likes.

One of the things about creativity is you can be in denial about these things. When I found out I had cancer, there were four hours in which I was pounding my head on the marble kitchen top saying, “I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it.” But then I felt as if this little army in uniform was flooding me. They had come to help me fight it. I felt really strong about it after that. It was one of the strongest periods of my life.

Good art will speak to you if you give it a chance.

All art inspires me. Life inspires me. The art of life, thus my own art.

Surrealism had a great effect on me because then I realised that the imagery in my mind wasn’t insanity. Surrealism to me is reality.

The truth is of course is that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time.

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

Bad artists imitate, great artists steal.

I don’t want to put too many boxes on it because the work speaks louder than words.

Art is not a thing; it is a way.