J. B. Pritzker Quotes

To end the pervasive culture of sexual harassment, it can no longer be the norm that men look the other way. It only ends when men actively participate in ending it.

- J. B. Pritzker

There's a truth about public service that is often unspoken and rarely understood - that the role of our elected officials is about much more than balancing budgets and ensuring the delivery of essential services.

- J. B. Pritzker

Great law schools like Northwestern are here to expand the minds of their students, to allow them to achieve their personal goals, to enable them to contribute, to give back in ways that they could not without the education they receive here, and to help them make the greatest country in the world just a little more accessible, a little fairer.

- J. B. Pritzker

Black and brown communities are significantly and disproportionately impacted by deficiencies in our criminal justice system.

- J. B. Pritzker

In the World Cup, people of many nations come together for a fierce competition. To field the best team, all the competitor nations know that they need to train their athletes for many years, starting as early as the first moments a child can recognize a soccer ball. No shortcuts. No late starts.

- J. B. Pritzker

Any business owner can tell you that if their company isn't performing profitably and up to standards, one of two things will happen: either you make changes to improve its efficiency, or a competitor will drive you out of business. Market forces have a way of cutting to the chase rather quickly.

- J. B. Pritzker

Ending Iran's nuclear threat and bringing it into the international community of law-abiding nations is one of the most pressing U.S. foreign policy objectives.

- J. B. Pritzker

I'm a progressive.

- J. B. Pritzker

I focus on supporting high quality early childhood health care and education. By betting my resources on very young children, I know I'm making an investment that pays guaranteed dividends with a high rate of return.

- J. B. Pritzker

The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center serves as a poignant reminder of our past and a trusted source of education for schoolchildren, community members, and visitors from across the country.

- J. B. Pritzker

None of our family businesses were focused on technology. It was '93 when I came out of law school, and the Internet was taking hold. So I started New World Ventures.

- J. B. Pritzker

When I'm governor, we're not going to be silent like Bruce Rauner. Illinois will be a firewall against Donald Trump's destructive and bigoted agenda.

- J. B. Pritzker

I've fixed the toilet. And I've been crawling in claustrophobic places... you have to deal with that when you become a homeowner.

- J. B. Pritzker

By definition, startups are not constrained by the limits of established company culture. And so they push boundaries and develop new technologies and ways of doing things.

- J. B. Pritzker

I've been honored to take part in protests and events across Illinois, joining with thousands of you in the resistance, making calls, sending letters, and making sure Washington understands that we will not allow the ACA to be repealed.

- J. B. Pritzker

My uncles and my aunts were outstanding. There's just no other way to say it.

- J. B. Pritzker

I hate the term 'philanthropist.'

- J. B. Pritzker

The more activity around Chicago-based companies, and the more success that entrepreneurs have in Chicago, the better we as venture capitalists in Chicago will do.

- J. B. Pritzker

By legitimizing Iran's nuclear program, removing the pressure of economic sanctions, and allowing it to obtain conventional weapons and ballistic missiles, this agreement makes the prospect for war more likely, not less.

- J. B. Pritzker

Studies have proven that early childhood education returns to society as much as $12 for every dollar invested. Our goal is to identify the most important development opportunities for children five years and younger, providing insight to transform early childhood education from a social policy issue into an economic imperative.

- J. B. Pritzker

There are many successful startup funders who are looking for ways to make a difference in the world.

- J. B. Pritzker

My great-grandfather came here as a refugee from the pogrom in Ukraine.

- J. B. Pritzker

Early education is the type of issue politicians nod their heads at, and then when it comes time to make a tough decision, a financial trade-off, inevitably it's about the first item tossed from the table.

- J. B. Pritzker

Early childhood education is an urgent educational, economic and moral imperative. Without it, we face a long-term national economic security crisis.

- J. B. Pritzker

For decades, Iran has covertly worked to develop a nuclear weapons program and has repeatedly violated its international obligations.

- J. B. Pritzker

The idea of investing in entrepreneurs who are building things from scratch, where I can participate in their dream, was very, very exciting to me.

- J. B. Pritzker

I have been fighting to protect women's healthcare and reproductive rights for decades.

- J. B. Pritzker

You, as an entrepreneur, must make sure the postmoney valuation is a number you can obtain. You don't want too high of a valuation.

- J. B. Pritzker

The challenge in multi-lateral negotiations is not to lose sight of one's over-arching goal in the midst of the cacophony of opinions at the bargaining table.

- J. B. Pritzker

It's important that we start conversations about changing the culture of sexual harassment and discrimination in politics, state capitols, and our larger communities with an acknowledgment of the courage of so many women who have chosen to speak up and speak out.

- J. B. Pritzker

No matter how much wealth anybody has, family problems are about the same across the board.

- J. B. Pritzker

Trump is an anathema to America's democracy and values.

- J. B. Pritzker

You know why I'm running for governor? Because everything we care about is under siege from President Donald Trump and Bruce Rauner.

- J. B. Pritzker

The basic right to quality and affordable health care is under assault by Donald Trump and Republicans in Washington.

- J. B. Pritzker

With Donald Trump as president and Republicans in control of Congress, our healthcare is under attack.

- J. B. Pritzker

I was always fascinated by politics, and I was exposed to it quite a lot.

- J. B. Pritzker

I am so proud to have the endorsement of a distinguished leader like Glenn Poshard.

- J. B. Pritzker

If you're governor of a state, and you have nothing to say when the president attacks the people that you represent, you are complicit.

- J. B. Pritzker

Head Start has been a key component of health, nutrition and early learning opportunities since the 1960s.

- J. B. Pritzker

The key to America's economic future is educating kids as early in their lives as we can.

- J. B. Pritzker

I am prepared to do whatever I can do and whatever is reasonable to make sure that it is Hillary who makes it to the White House and not Trump.

- J. B. Pritzker

Setting a tone of inclusiveness and ensuring protection for all begins at the top, whether from the White House or the State House.

- J. B. Pritzker

There's no doubt that there's a public backlash against the way campaign money is raised, but I don't think the only alternative is to elect people with money.

- J. B. Pritzker

I grew up watching my mom and dad selling rooms in our motels. We had CEOs coming to our house so that my dad could persuade them to have their executives stay in Hyatt hotels.

- J. B. Pritzker

When you're governor, you've got to step up to the plate; you've got to make a proposal for a balanced budget. That's the requirement. And then you've got to sit down and negotiate if the folks that you need to work with disagree with you on points.

- J. B. Pritzker

As an elected official, an advocate for children, and an educator, Glenn Poshard has always fought for what's right.

- J. B. Pritzker

Women should not be forced to accept sexual harassment as the price of admission to a life and career in the political world. They should not have to endure unwanted touching, innuendo, and propositioning from men in positions of power.

- J. B. Pritzker

The people at the bottom who are working but working at relatively low wages need some help.

- J. B. Pritzker

Rauner needs to tell Illinoisans what essential health benefits he intends to keep covering in Illinois.

- J. B. Pritzker

It takes so long for the folks who are earning minimum wage to finally see a little bit of a rise... that it takes a little nudge, I think, from government.

- J. B. Pritzker

ChicagoNEXT is focused on making Chicago the best possible place for technology entrepreneurs.

- J. B. Pritzker

Illinois has the opportunity to lead the country in providing more affordable health care options to its citizens.

- J. B. Pritzker

I'm running for governor because I think we need to change things in Illinois.

- J. B. Pritzker

When you're someone who cares about making a difference in the world, and you have resources to do that, you have literally hundreds of choices you could make about how to do that.

- J. B. Pritzker

It takes a tough, stand-up governor to stand up to the president of the United States - speaking out against the president, speaking out against his policies and, more than that, having actual policies that will help expand health care while... Trump is trying to diminish it for Illinois families.

- J. B. Pritzker

Let's help those in prison maintain positive connections with their community. If we truly want re-entry to be successful, and we do, people need to come back to a place that still feels like home.

- J. B. Pritzker

I've tried, in my own life, to speak up when I see harassment occurring. But I want to acknowledge that there are probably situations and instances where I could have done more. I think that's an acknowledgment that all men need to make.

- J. B. Pritzker

When candidates have asked me for support before, they have asked for more than a check.

- J. B. Pritzker

Trump can spend virtually an unlimited amount of his own money on this election, which makes him unlike any of the other candidates in the race. So those who oppose him will have to work very hard to make sure he doesn't win.

- J. B. Pritzker

To me, the special parts of the day - and also the ones that fit with a full-time job - are bedtime and wake-up time. So I try really hard to be there for my kids as many of those nights and mornings as I can.

- J. B. Pritzker

Whatever you build, you're building for the family - not with an eye toward getting away, but with an eye toward adding to the family pie.

- J. B. Pritzker

Let's remember that Bruce Rauner has every interest in getting stories out there that hurt Democrats.

- J. B. Pritzker

Rauner stands silent as Trump assaults our basic rights.

- J. B. Pritzker

In my day job, I worry non-stop about making wise investments for long-term gains.

- J. B. Pritzker

There are not 'many sides' in the fight against hatred and bigotry. There is only right and wrong.

- J. B. Pritzker

We're trying to make money, trying to add a zero onto our net worth.

- J. B. Pritzker

Unfortunately, Bruce Rauner is more committed to playing politics than fighting for Illinois women and families.

- J. B. Pritzker

I'm an independent thinker and independent leader. I have been my whole life.

- J. B. Pritzker

Just because one happens to be wealthy, it doesn't mean you are naturally any good at building an investment operation that is world-class or successful.

- J. B. Pritzker

Great success doesn't come in short periods of time.

- J. B. Pritzker

Illinois needs a single-payer health care system, and as governor, I will take the steps to get us there.

- J. B. Pritzker

Health care is a human right, and single-payer health care will deliver quality, affordable care to every Illinoisan.

- J. B. Pritzker

My wife and I were both very engaged in trying to defeat Trump. We knocked on doors in three states.

- J. B. Pritzker

Governor Rauner talks about what he might get done or what he tried to get done. It's past time for all his talk. It's time for action. It's what I've been doing my whole life.

- J. B. Pritzker

Bruce Rauner needs to lead, and until he does, we must fight to hold him accountable.

- J. B. Pritzker

I'm involved in issues, and issues are about grass-roots politics.

- J. B. Pritzker

Selling online is one channel, but it's not the only channel.

- J. B. Pritzker

I have a lot of Republican friends.

- J. B. Pritzker

I come with bad genetics, personally.

- J. B. Pritzker

We all know Illinois has big challenges. And under Gov. Rauner, things have only gotten worse.

- J. B. Pritzker

Small ideas won't help Illinois' future.

- J. B. Pritzker

Leadership means setting a moral tone.

- J. B. Pritzker

I am a lifelong Democrat.

- J. B. Pritzker

My father was a very gregarious, very open guy. So every weekend, the house was full of people.

- J. B. Pritzker

I do periodically ride a bus with my kids.

- J. B. Pritzker

We like to invest in market leaders.

- J. B. Pritzker

Single-payer is about making our society a better place. It's about putting people over profits.

- J. B. Pritzker

Part of being a top-20 firm is mind-share.

- J. B. Pritzker

I think much of what you learn as a kid comes before age seven.

- J. B. Pritzker

I'm proud to be part of the resistance.

- J. B. Pritzker