Quotes By David Rockefeller

The conventional notions of art have changed, and a lot of things done today are considered works of art that would have been rejected in the past.

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.

Only once in my life was I on the edge of incivility.

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

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

I realize how fortunate I have been; mine has been a wonderful life.

It is true that I am often startled and even angered and repulsed by the strange directions and provocative content of new forms that seem to pop up every few months.

I was brought up feeling that art is a very important part of one's life. It's something that I not only enjoy, it's something I can share with others.

When I see something I like, I buy it, but I do not look for it madly.

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

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

I do not like to be unkind.

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.

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

Much corporate giving is charitable in nature rather than philanthropic.

My grandfather, along with Carnegie, was a pioneer in philanthropy, which my father then practiced on a very large scale.

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

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 am never angry, although sometimes distressed.

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

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.

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

The Christian ethic played an essential part in my upbringing.

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

I hope the Guggenheim plan will be revived.

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.

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 I am basically a happy person.

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.

Only once in my life was I on the edge of incivility. I do not like to be unkind.