Nicky Oppenheimer Quotes

Powerful Nicky Oppenheimer for Daily Growth

About Nicky Oppenheimer

Nicky Oppenheimer, born Nicholas Ryan Oppenheimer on March 16, 1948, is a South African businessman, philanthropist, and member of the prominent Oppenheimer family known for their significant contributions to South Africa's diamond industry. Born in Johannesburg, Nicky was the eldest son of Harry Oppenheimer, who served as the Chairman of De Beers Consolidated Mines and Anglo American Corporation for several decades. His grandfather Ernest Oppenheimer founded De Beers and played a crucial role in shaping South Africa's mining industry. After attending Harrow School in England, Nicky returned to South Africa to join his family's business. In 1980, he became a director of Anglo American Corporation, eventually succeeding his father as Chairman from 1993-2001. Under his leadership, Anglo American expanded into new markets and industries. Nicky Oppenheimer is also known for his philanthropy, particularly in the field of conservation. In 2006, he sold his family's controlling stake in De Beers for $5.1 billion, using a significant portion of the funds to establish the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, one of Africa's largest and most expensive private game reserves. Quotes attributed to Nicky Oppenheimer often reflect his pragmatic approach to business and life: "The best way to predict your future is to create it," and "The world doesn't care about your problems if you don't have money." These quotes encapsulate his strategic mindset and focus on action. Today, Nicky Oppenheimer continues his philanthropic efforts, focusing on conservation and education in South Africa and beyond. His life and work serve as a testament to the impact of family legacy, business acumen, and philanthropy in shaping nations and preserving natural heritage.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success."

This quote by Nicky Oppenheimer emphasizes that true success, in any sense, does not lead to happiness but rather it is the other way around - happiness leads to success. In other words, finding contentment and joy in life (happiness) should be a priority, as it fosters a positive mindset that supports personal growth, fulfillment, and achievement (success). This perspective encourages individuals to focus on creating a happy and meaningful life rather than solely pursuing material or professional accomplishments.


"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."

This quote by Nicky Oppenheimer emphasizes the joy and satisfaction derived from overcoming obstacles and achieving feats that others deem impossible. It suggests that breaking through limitations, whether self-imposed or externally imposed, can bring great pleasure and fulfillment. The sentiment encourages perseverance, resilience, and a willingness to challenge one's own potential, ultimately leading to personal growth and the development of an indomitable spirit.


"You can't change how people treat you or what they say about you. All you can do is change how you react to it, and how it effects your thoughts, feelings and actions."

This quote by Nicky Oppenheimer emphasizes the importance of focusing on personal responses rather than external factors beyond one's control, such as other people's behavior or opinions towards us. It suggests that individuals should strive to maintain a positive and constructive mindset, regardless of how others may treat them or what they say. By doing so, it allows the person to effectively manage their thoughts, feelings, and actions in a healthy manner. Essentially, the quote encourages personal empowerment and resilience by emphasizing self-control and self-awareness.


"To succeed, you have to be able to handle the pressure. That's the key to success."

This quote by Nicky Oppenheimer suggests that the ability to manage pressure is crucial for achieving success. It implies that one must not only possess talent or skill, but also the emotional fortitude to endure and thrive under challenging circumstances. The pressure can stem from various sources such as competition, expectations, or time constraints, among others. Therefore, embracing pressure as an opportunity rather than a threat can lead to personal growth and ultimately, success.


"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts."

This quote emphasizes the importance of resilience and persistence in the face of success or failure. It suggests that achieving success does not guarantee future success, and experiencing failure does not determine one's fate. Instead, it is the ability to maintain courage and continue striving towards goals that truly defines success. The message is that setbacks should be seen as opportunities to learn and grow, rather than insurmountable obstacles.


I don't think Africa gets as much credit as it should have on the world stage. People tend to think of us as coming from The Dark Continent, where nothing good goes on. That's not true. A huge amount of, as I say, entrepreneurship goes on.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Good, Continent, Tend, World Stage

It is only through developing and maximizing all its natural resources that a sustainable future for Africa and its people can be secured.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Natural, Through, Africa, Maximizing

America is a country of entrepreneurship and great business leaders.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Business, Country, Business Leaders

The Kimberley Process is not a perfect construct, and it is necessary now to re-double efforts to address its remaining shortcomings and strengthen its provisions.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Process, Perfect, Address, Provisions

Businesses need certainty, to see clearly the rules of engagement for investing in South Africa.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

See, Africa, South Africa, Businesses

May I suggest that people in many African countries could be suffering from donation fatigue?

- Nicky Oppenheimer

May, Could, African, Fatigue

It's much nicer to be known as Mr. Nice Guy than Mr. Nasty Guy. But you've got to have lines - and when you hit the line, that's the end of the story, nice guy or not.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Line, Mr, Nicer, Nice Guy

I am an African. I live there and my children live there, and as far as I understand, they intend to go on living there.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Living, Understand, Go, Intend

I am one of the affluent rich living the good life. But I like to think that I am doing my bit to resolve the problems of Africa and am certainly committed to Africa in the long run.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Doing, Think, Certainly, Problems

The army taught me to sign my name very quickly, and that's stood me in good stead the rest of my life.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Rest, My Life, Very, Stead

One likes at the point of production to realize the maximum value, and diamond producers are no different.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Diamond, Production, Maximum, Producers

Diamonds are a key component in the campaign to make poverty history.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Poverty, Diamonds, Campaign, Component

You can get a diamond which is worth 10 cents; you can get a diamond of exactly the same size, which is worth a hundred dollars.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Which, Hundred, Cents, Size

Any father likes his son to take over from him if possible.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Over, Take, His, Likes

We all need to become more customer-focused and recognize the power of marketing to sell more diamonds.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Marketing, Diamonds, Need, Recognize

I was never a skilled artist or anything like that - never a rebel.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Rebel, Artist, Never, Skilled

We're seeing diamonds coming back into favor.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Diamonds, Seeing, Back, Favor

The diamond business has always been secretive.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Diamond, Always, Been, Secretive

Diamonds are intrinsically worthless, except for the deep psychological need they fill.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Deep, Diamonds, Worthless

One doesn't necessarily have a mission.

- Nicky Oppenheimer

Necessarily, Mission

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