Michael Bloomberg
Title Name: Mayor Michael Rubens Bloomberg
Full Name: Michael Rubens Bloomberg
Birthdate: February 14, 1942
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Occupation: Business Magnate, Philanthropist, and Politician
Profile: Served as 108th Mayor of New York City (2002–2013).
Website: http://mikebloomberg.com/
Number of Quotes: 155
A good leader is someone who can tell a great story, and a great leader is someone who can make everyone a character in that story.
A little competition is a good thing. The best thing that ever happened to me was being fired.
Referring to his dismissal from Salomon Brothers, which led him to start his company.
After hard work, the biggest determinant is being in the right place at the right time.
Comment on luck and opportunity; appears in multiple quote collections summarizing Bloomberg's remarks about luck and timing.
All great leaders have the ability to bring people together, to find common ground, and to move people toward a better future.
America is built around this premise that you can do it, and there are an awful lot of people who are unlikely to have done it who did.
America is the greatest country on Earth - and when people vote with their feet, they come here.
And because no matter who you are, if you believe in yourself and your dream, New York will always be the place for you.
And I keep saying, whether you like the president or not, everybody has to pull together and help the president because, as the
president goes, so goes the country, as the country goes, so goes your job, your ability to feed your family, your government.
And I think the more money you put in people's hands, the more they will spend. And if they don't spend it, they invest it. And investing it is
another way of creating jobs. It puts money into mutual funds or other kinds of banks that can go out and make loans, and we need to do that.
And if I were the president, I'd go out there and I'd emphasize the things I have done, and I'd say,
Some things haven't worked, and I'm sorry about that, but I keep trying.
And I'm - and I think the president is
a very viable candidate, and you're going to have a real horse race here no matter who the Republican nominee is.
Approach everything with brutal honesty. Even when it might do me bad in the immediate moment, it always serves me well in the long term.
Advice on leadership and management in a Bloomberg
profile/company feature.
Because of my success in the private sector, I had the chance to run America's largest city for 12 years, governing in the wake of its greatest tragedy.
Being an entrepreneur isn't really about starting a business. It's a way of looking at the
world: seeing opportunity where others see obstacles, taking risks when others take refuge.
Frequently cited line from Bloomberg's
public remarks on entrepreneurship and risk-taking (appears in quote anthologies).
Canada sets aside 36 percent of their visas for people with skills they think their country
needs. We set aside six percent. We educate the doctors, and then don't give 'em a green card.
Capitalism works.
China is investing in factories in Eastern Europe, not because their labor costs are lower, but because they want to be closer to their markets.
Climate change is the biggest challenge facing humanity. It threatens our health, our economy, and our very existence. We have a moral obligation to act.
Don't be afraid to assert yourself, have confidence in your abilities and don't let the bastards get you down.
Often quoted advice for entrepreneurs and leaders; appears in multiple curated quote lists and anthologies.
Don't be afraid to make decisions. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Just don't make the same mistake twice.
Education is the key to opportunity. It's the great equalizer. It's the one thing that can help people break the cycle of poverty.
Every morning when we get up, we relish the day's upcoming battles. They keep us alive, and they keep Bloomberg's corporate family thriving. We can't wait
for tomorrow. Who says we can't do that? What do you mean they'll beat us? Have them put on their boxing gloves, and send them into the ring. We're ready!
Every one of my positions cuts - out half the country. I'm pro-choice, I'm pro-gay rights, I'm pro-immigration, I'm
against guns, I believe in Darwin.
Facts and data should drive policy, not politics or ideology.
For the first time in the history of the world more people will die from overeating than undereating this year.
Used in discussions of public-health priorities (Bloomberg’s
philanthropy on obesity/tobacco); appears in public remarks and quote compilations.
Good judgment comes from experience — and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
Common Bloomberg aphorism
about learning from mistakes; appears in interviews and quote pages.
Government is dysfunctional.
Government should be run like a business, with a focus on efficiency, innovation, and results.
Government shouldn't tell you whom to marry.
I am a believer in gun safety laws. I think most Americans are. The NRA's power is a myth, and we have to stand up to them.
I am a big believer in taking risks. You can't steal second base with your foot on first.
I am what I am and, you know, I'm a very lucky guy.
I believe in Judaism, I was raised a Jew, I'm happy to be one - or proud to be one.
I do think there are certain times we should infringe on your freedom.
I don't believe that government is good at picking technology, particularly technology
that is changing. By the time you get it done and go through democracy, it's so outdated.
I don't know why you should be proud of something. It doesn't make you any better or worse. You are what you are.
I have earned my money. And I'm giving it all away... The phrase is, If you want to
make God laugh, tell
him your plans.
I'm not sure God even listens to billionaires.
I have the best job I could possibly have.
I know how to make decisions and stand up to the criticism every day.
I know something about how to build constituencies in an independent way.
I mean, you know, we don't live in a perfect world.
I never lie, so if somebody asked me a question, I told them.
I think if you look at people, whether in business or government, who haven't had any moral compass,
who've just changed to say whatever they thought the popular thing was, in the end they're losers.
I think one of the great dangers here is going and categorizing anybody from one religion as a
terrorist. That's not true... That would let the terrorists win. That's what they want us to do.
I think we are not serious about attacking the long-term debt problem, and that's
one of the things that he's going to have to find a way to get on the agenda.
I understand the appeal of a businessman president. But Trump's
business plan is a disaster in the making.
I will say that walking down the street, getting on the subway, taking the elevator, if there's one or two people and they say, Great job,
Mayor,
that is a real turn-on. I mean, anybody that wouldn't find that satisfying, rewarding, exciting, thrilling - I think they should see the doctor.
I'd be derelict in my duty if I didn't go and continue to use every advantage that I can to promote New York's cause.
I'd be happy to provide advice if anybody asked me no matter who the President is.
I'm a New Yorker, and New Yorkers aren't afraid of a good fight.
I'm not going to run for president. No way, no how.
I'm trying to change the culture in New York City; that's hard enough!
I've always respected those who tried to change the world for the better, rather than just complain about it.
Bloomberg quoted this line in public speaking
and it also echoes the theme of his memoir Bloomberg
by Bloomberg.
I've always thought if we don't want to enforce laws on the books, we should remove them
from the books. But when you have laws, you breed contempt if you don't enforce them.
I've been a Democrat, I've been a Republican, and I eventually became an independent
because I don't believe either party has a monopoly on good ideas or strong leadership.
I've got the greatest job in the world. There's no other job in government where cause and effect is so tightly coupled where
you can make a difference every day in so many different ways and in so many different people's lives. It's a great challenge.
If a hurricane strikes, we can blame the president for not being there; we can blame Congress and FEMA; we can blame the state
governments; but in the end, it's the mayors and the local city governments that have to be prepared for emergencies and be prepared to act.
If Warren Buffett made his money from ordinary income rather than capital
gains, his tax rate would be a lot higher than his secretary's. In fact a very small percentage of people in this country pay a big chunk of the taxes.
If you can compete based on smarts, flexibility, and willingness to give more for less, then small companies like Bloomberg clearly have an advantage.
Bloomberg by
Bloomberg (on competing with larger firms).
If you can't get paid well to do something you love, you're in the wrong job.
If you don't encounter setbacks in your career... you're not dreaming big enough.
Advice Bloomberg has
given in entrepreneurship/leadership talks (appears in compiled quote lists).
If you really believe that you're making a difference and that you can leave a legacy of better schools and jobs and safer streets, why would you not
spend the money? The objective is to improve the schools, bring down crime, build affordable housing, clean the streets - not to have a fair fight.
If you want to enjoy the rewards of being an American, you have to accept the responsibilities of being an American.
In God we trust. Everyone else, bring data.
This is perhaps one of his most famous quotes, encapsulating his data-driven philosophy.
In the end, it's not about the money. It's about whether you made a difference.
Ironically, it is exactly because we are a city that embraces freedom, that welcomes everyone
and encourages their dreams, that New York remains on the front lines in the war on terror.
It is exactly because we are a city that embraces freedom, that welcomes everyone and
encourages their dreams, that New York remains on the front lines in the war on terror.
It's never been my ambition to be the richest man in the cemetery.
It's no fun to protest on an empty stomach.
Last I looked - and I'm not a candidate - but last time I checked reading about the Constitution, the Electoral
College has nothing to do with parties, has absolutely nothing to do with parties. It's most states are winners take all.
Leadership is not about standing on a pedestal and issuing commands. It's about rolling up your sleeves and working alongside your team.
Let's face it, the only thing that really matters in business is the customer.
Look, we live in a very dangerous world. We know there are people who want to take away our freedoms. New
Yorkers probably know that as much if not more than anybody else after the terrible tragedy of 9/11.
Many of America's and New York's sons and daughters are around the world fighting for the freedoms that the Statue of Liberty stands for.
My father worked all the time.
My job as mayor was to take the heat and let my commissioners do their work.
New York City is the greatest city in the world, but it's not for the faint of heart. It's a place
where you have to be tough, you have to be resilient, and you have to be willing to work hard.
No matter what you may think about her politics or her record, Hillary Clinton
understands that this is not reality television; this is reality. She understands the job of president. It involves finding solutions, not pointing fingers; and
offering hope, not stoking fear.
No place epitomizes the American experience and the American spirit more than New York City.
Nobody ever built a statue to a critic. Go out and do things. Take risks.
Nobody is going to delegate a lot of power to a secretary that they can't control.
Nobody offered me a job so I did this instead.
A pithy line Bloomberg has
used when describing why he founded his company (appears in profiles and interviews).
On Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of first responders heroically rushed to the scene and saved tens of thousands of lives. More
than 400 of those first responders did not make it out alive. In rushing into those burning buildings, not one of them asked,
What God do you pray to? What beliefs do you hold?
Our goal here in New York is to ensure that every child who graduates high school is ready to start a
career or start college and to dramatically increase the number of students that graduate from college.
People have no confidence that Washington, both sides of aisle, are coming together to try and do what's right for the economy.
People use so much more health care when they live longer.
Progress is not inevitable. It's up to us to create it.
Stated in speeches and quoted in many lists; reflects his advocacy for active policy and philanthropy.
Progress really is possible.
Public health is the foundation of a functioning society. If people aren't healthy, nothing else works.
A sentiment heavily emphasized during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Put simply, we should do the best we can for the most people we can, for as long as we can.
A summation of Bloomberg's
public-policy/philanthropy philosophy often reflected in op-eds and speeches.
Serve the public without ever forgetting how important it is to get results.
Paraphrase/line Bloomberg uses
in mayoral and civic-service remarks; shows his pragmatic get things done
approach.
Stubborn isn't a word I would use to describe myself; pigheaded is more appropriate.
Success is not based on having the best of everything — it's based on making the best of what you have.
Leadership/entrepreneurship line attributed to Bloomberg across
quote collections.
Taxes are not good things, but if you want services, somebody's got to pay for them so they're a necessary evil.
The ability to bring people together from different backgrounds and perspectives is the key to solving any complex problem.
The best philanthropy is constantly in search of the finalities — a search for a cause, an attempt to cure evils at their source.
An idea aligned with Bloomberg's
long-term philanthropic strategy. (Appears in philanthropy commentary and quotes lists).
The best way to get things done is to be pragmatic, not partisan.
The CIA will only hire people with impeccable credentials to be a translator.
Impeccable credentials
means you've never lived outside the United States.
The cold harsh reality is that we have to balance the budget.
The data is clear: when you have a concentration of guns, you have a concentration of death.
The level of analysis that is done when you see laws created, whether it's the city or state or federal level - it's much more horse-trading than analysis.
Bloomberg remark
on the messy reality of legislative processes (quoted in policy commentary).
The next day after I got fired, literally the next day, I started a new company.
Bloomberg recounting his post-firing decision that led to
founding Bloomberg L.P.; appears in profiles and interviews.
The one thing computers have done is let us make bigger mistakes. We have to be careful not to depend on our machines.
The people who are worried about privacy have a legitimate worry. But we live in a complex world where you're going to have to have a level of
security greater than you did back in the olden days, if you will. And our laws and our interpretation of the Constitution, I think, have to change.
The politics of partisanship and the resulting inaction and excuses have paralyzed decision-making, primarily
at the federal level, and the big issues of the day are not being addressed, leaving our future in jeopardy.
The public is mad, frustrated, but what the public wants is progress.
The public is upset. If they haven't lost their job, they know somebody that has. If they haven't lost their house, they know somebody that
has. What do you do? When something's wrong, it's government's job to fix it, it must be government that's responsible for causing it.
The role of government is to help people who can't help themselves.
The World Trade Center site will forever hold a special place in our city, in our hearts. But we would be untrue to
the best part of ourselves and who we are as New Yorkers and Americans if we said no to a mosque in lower Manhattan.
The world's most valuable resource is no longer oil, but data.
There are lots of bad reasons to start a company. But there's only one good, legitimate reason, and I think you know what it is: It's to change the world.
Frequently quoted line in entrepreneurship lists and speeches.
There is no accountability today... no willingness to focus on big ideas.
There is no business in America that would be prevented from taking results into account when making personnel decisions.
There's a fascinating statistic: One out of every four people in America has visited New York since
9/11. It is astounding. Now, I don't know how you count it; it's some people coming multiple times.
These endless legal challenges that define elections in New York are a joke in this country, and they are the reason
why it is so expensive, or one of the reasons, it's so expensive to run here and why so many people decide not to run.
This is the city of dreamers and time and again it's the place where the greatest dream of all, the American dream, has been tested and has triumphed.
This society cannot go forward, the way we have been going forward, where the gap between the rich and the
poor keeps growing. It's not politically viable; it's not morally right; it's just not going to happen.
To a contrarian like me, constant advice not to do something almost always starts me quickly down the risky, unpopular path.
Today, as an independent, an entrepreneur, and a former mayor, I believe we need a president who is a problem solver, not a bomb thrower. Someone who can bring
members of Congress together to get things done. And I know Hillary Clinton can
do that because I saw it firsthand.
Trees will improve property values, take pollutants out of the air, help with water runoff.
Unemployment in America today is too high. And part of the reason, unfortunately, is that
many companies cannot fill the high-skilled jobs increasingly at risk of going overseas.
We all must recognize that homeland security funds should be allocated by threat and no other reason.
We are the safest large city in America, but any crime rate is too high.
We can be certain that cities around the world will compete for the jobs that the next revival of the financial services industry will bring.
We can only create good jobs if we make smarter investments in infrastructure and do more to support small businesses, not stiff them.
Policy statement reflecting Bloomberg's
economic policy remarks and op-eds.
We can only solve our biggest problems if we come together and embrace the freedoms that our Founding Fathers established
right here in Philadelphia, which permitted our ancestors to create the great American exceptionalism that all of us now enjoy.
We cannot continue to rely on the federal government to solve our problems. Cities and states must lead the way.
We have to get control of our borders. You can only do that if you make companies obey the law and not hire undocumented or illegals.
They can only do that is if they have a Social Security Card that has biometrics so they know whether the person is legal or not.
We may not always agree with every one of our neighbors. That's life. And it's part of living in such a
diverse and dense city. But we also recognize that part of being a New Yorker is living with your neighbors in mutual
respect and tolerance. It was exactly that spirit of openness and acceptance that was attacked on 9/11, 2001.
We should measure success in terms of whether a child born poor can rise to a decent life.
Lines like this appear in Bloomberg's speeches on education and opportunity; captures his mayoral priorities.
We should remember it wasn't so long ago that confidence in New York was in short supply.
We will go forward... we will never go back.
We will rebuild, renew and remain the capital of the free world.
We would betray our values and play into our enemies' hands if we were to treat Muslims differently than anyone else.
In fact, to cave to popular sentiment would be to hand a victory to the terrorists, and we should not stand for that.
We've shown the world that New York can never be defeated, because of its dynamic and diverse population and because it embodies the spirit of
enterprise and the love of liberty. And because no matter who you are, if you believe in yourself and your dream, New York will always be the place for you.
Well, we have to provide the world's best schools. We certainly don't have them, but that's our objective.
Well, you have the public not wanting any new spending, you have the Republicans not wanting any new taxes, you have the Democrats not wanting any new
spending cuts, you have the markets not wanting any new borrowing, and you have the economists wanting all of the above. And that leads to paralysis.
What chance does a five-foot-seven billionaire Jew who's divorced really have of becoming president?
What goes on in Europe concerns us greatly because, if Europe comes apart, the E.U. comes apart, then you're going to have
enormous impact on America, that's a very big trading partner of ours, and people own securities around the world in this day and age.
What has changed is that people have stopped working together.
Whatever you may think of the proposed mosque and community center, lost in the heat of the debate has been a basic question: Should
government attempt to deny private citizens the right to build a house of worship on private property based on their particular religion?
When I came into office, people said, Billionaire? How do they live? What do they eat? How do they sleep?
Today, they see
me on the subway coming uptown. A couple of people say hi, some people smile and nod. Some people just sleep. It's not an issue.
When the Founding Fathers arrived here in Philadelphia to forge a new nation, they didn't come as Democrats
or Republicans or to nominate a presidential candidate. They came as patriots who feared party politics.
When you come in to court as a plaintiff or as a defendant, it is terribly important that you look up at the bench and feel
that that person represents you and will understand you, that that person is reflective of our community and of our society.
When you see people with drive, with a thirst to do something and a desire to help other people, you have to have the willingness to get behind them.
Bloomberg on
supporting entrepreneurs and civic projects (said in interviews).
Yes, they broke the law, but we can't deport them. Let's get over this pointing fingers and do something about that, whether it - they
have to pay a fine, learn to speak English, the history, you can do that. And then you have to give visas for the skills we need.
You are safer here tonight than you would be on the streets of any other city in the world.
You can't define what's middle class, what is wealthy, what is poor.
You can't depend on polls.
You can't manage what you don't measure.
A classic business adage he frequently embodies).
You can't sit there and worry about everything.
Short leadership line used by Bloomberg in
interviews about risk and decision-making.
You don't make spending decisions, investment decisions, hiring decisions, or
whether-you're-going-to-look-for-a-job decisions when you don't know what's going to happen.
You have to take away some of tax breaks for the wealthy, and you have to cut back on some entitlements. Because, unless we do all
of these things, it just doesn't work. And what's good theater and what's good politics isn't necessarily good economic policy.
You know, I start with the assumption that - or with, with the belief that this president has to succeed.
We all have an enormous amount of capital invested in his success. His success is the country's success.
You know, if it's a three-way race, the public has more choice than if it's a two-way race, and has more choice in a two-way race than a one-way race.
You know, if you look back in the 1930s, the money went to infrastructure. The bridges, the municipal
buildings, the roads, those were all built with stimulus money spent on infrastructure. This stimulus bill has
fundamentally gone, started out with a $500 rebate check, remember. That went to buy flat-screen TVs made in China.
You must first be willing to fail — and you must have the courage to go for it anyway.
Advice Bloomberg gives
entrepreneurs and students during speeches and panels.
You're entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts.
Bloomberg has used/quoted
this aphorism in public addresses (e.g., commencement/honor-code speeches about civi responsibility).
Last on Earth
