A guy named Arthur Drexler, from the Museum of Modern Art, put it very well when he said, “Skyscrapers are machines for making money.” Drexler meant it as a criticism. I saw it as an incentive.
— The Art of the Deal, 1987
You ask a baker how he makes bread. You ask a billionaire how he makes money.
— How to Get Rich, 2004
When you have a lot of money, it can cause misery. But I’d rather have that kind of misery than the misery without it. Money may not grow from trees, but it does grow from talent, hard work, and brains. I have a talent for making money; some people don’t. But part of my “talent” is my drive and my work ethic, so even if you don’t have the genetic makeup to be a billionaire, you can still work hard and maybe, if you’re lucky and smart, you can be a millionaire.
— Think Like a Billionaire, 2004
Money was never a big motivation for me, except as a way to keep score. The real excitement is playing the game.
— The Art of the Deal, 1987
When somebody hurts you, just go after them as viciously and as violently as you can. Like it says in the Bible, an eye for an eye. Be paranoid. I know this observation doesn’t make any of us sound very good, but let’s face the fact that it’s possible that even your best friend wants to steal your spouse and your money.
— How to Get Rich, 2004