Henry Kravis

Giving back is something that comes from the heart to me. It's not that I do it because it's the right thing: I do it because I want do it.

The trouble, in my opinion, with corporate America today, is that everything is thought of in quarters.

If you don't have integrity, you have nothing. You can't buy it. You can have all the money in the world, but if you are not a moral and ethical person, you really have nothing.

If you have something at risk, you think differently.

It's one of the most important things at the end of the day, being able to say no to an investment.

One, I love the creativity. I love the ability to create a capital structure that is appropriate for a company, no matter what field it happens to be in.

If you build that foundation, both the moral and the ethical foundation, as well as the business foundation, and the experience foundation, then the building won't crumble.

So I picked a field where I had a little exposure. Where I thought I could have an enormous challenge, and have a chance to really do some good, to be a pioneer in an area, and not just be like everyone else.

You only have one thing to sell in life, and that's yourself.

I've been in a hurry all my life. I've been in a hurry to succeed, and in a hurry to prove myself.

I love the ability to work with very good managers, and to provide the right incentives for them, and truly become a partner with that management, and make that management take a long view.

It's not just buying the company. Sure, we picked the right companies, and we picked the right management and, most importantly, we've given them the right incentive to perform.