Collecting is more than just buying objects.

I believe in the democratization of the arts. What do I mean by that? I think museums, with some exceptions, have a responsibility to educate a much broader public.

School boards are, for the most part,made up of political wannabes who see a board seat as a stepping stone for political office, or well-meaning parents who represent an ethnic group or geography, or have some other narrow interests. Few people on them understand what governance is about.

In high school, I would drive my teachers batty. They would make a statement, and I would say, 'Why is that?' They didn't want to be questioned.

Frankly, I'm not sure how far I would get if I attended public school today. It's not just that public schools aren't producing the results we want - it's that we're not giving them what they need to help students achieve at high levels. K-12 education in the United States is deeply antiquated.

I believe that a newspaper is a great civic asset and that ownership is best in the hands of foundations or wealthy families that want to own it for reasons other than maximizing profits. I also believe newspapers should remain in local hands.

In America, what you've accomplished financially is a measurement, whether you like it or not.

A real collector does not sell.

If people want to criticize me because it sells papers, that's fine. I just don't like it when it's inaccurate.

I'm strong-willed. Architects are strong-willed. You get the best results with a strong client and a strong architect working together.

Time is the most valuable thing you have - and I'm not just talking about the minutes for which you're paid.

People don't know I've got a deep social conscience. I'm a child of the Depression, born in 1933. My parents were very liberal in their social views.

Philanthropy is activism.

I never stay anywhere - parties, museums, meetings - longer than three hours.

People would rather have art or gold instead of paper money.

The first dream I had was just to get a college education. I got through college in three years, taking extra classes in summer school.

The unions no longer control the education agenda of the Democratic Party.

My family and I have been blessed with good fortune in the world of business. We've created quite a net worth. My children, two boys, have more money than they will ever need, and they aren't empire builders.

I believe in two things: One, Andrew Carnegie said, 'He who dies with wealth dies in shame.' And someone once said, 'He who gives while he lives also knows where it goes.'

I could live anywhere in the world I want. But Los Angeles is the place to live.

Every artist is unreasonable, because he or she is doing something that hasn't been done before.

I can't think of another enterprise other than being a homeowner that can't have its debt restructured in bankruptcy. Corporations can but a homeowner can't? Now with securitization the homeowner can't go to the owner of the loan and work things out.

What artists think about the world is often different from how we businessmen see it, and I find that an enriching experience.

It's hard to explain your emotions when you see a work of art.