Richard Grasso Quotes

Powerful Richard Grasso for Daily Growth

About Richard Grasso

Richard Grasso (1934-2017) was an influential American lawyer, banker, and author known for his expertise in corporate governance and finance. Born on September 15, 1934, in New York City, Grasso grew up in a family of modest means. Despite these humble beginnings, he attended St. John's University and later Fordham Law School, graduating with a Juris Doctor degree in 1958. Grasso began his career as an associate at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom before moving to the financial world. He held several prominent positions, including chairman and CEO of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) from 1995 to 2003. During his tenure at the NYSE, Grasso led significant reforms, such as the introduction of electronic trading and increased transparency in the market. In 2003, a controversial compensation package controversy led to his resignation from the NYSE. Despite this setback, Grasso continued his career, serving as chairman of Deutsche Bank's Americas division until 2008. Grasso was also an accomplished author, publishing several books on corporate governance and finance. His most notable works include "Runaway Compensation" (2004), which criticized excessive executive pay, and "Street Smarts: Adventures on the New York Stock Exchange" (1997), a memoir detailing his time at the NYSE. Grasso's legacy extends beyond his professional achievements. He was known for his philanthropy, particularly in education, and served as the chairman of the Board of Trustees at St. John's University. Grasso passed away on October 15, 2017, leaving behind a significant impact on finance, governance, and higher education.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The market is a voting machine in the short run and a weighing machine in the long run."

This quote by Richard Grasso suggests that financial markets react emotionally (voting) in the short term, influenced by speculation, rumors, or breaking news. However, over time (long run), market prices are determined more accurately based on the fundamental value of companies (weighing). It means that market fluctuations due to public sentiment should not be mistaken for long-term trends as the market eventually corrects itself and reflects the intrinsic worth of stocks.


"It's not about the destination, it's about the journey."

This quote by Richard Grasso emphasizes the importance of the process or experience over the final result or destination. It encourages us to appreciate each step of our journey, whether in personal growth, professional development, or life experiences, rather than solely focusing on the end goal. By enjoying and learning from the journey, we often discover more about ourselves, build valuable skills, and create meaningful memories that contribute to a rich and fulfilling life.


"Markets are always there to teach you something, even if you don't always want to learn."

This quote emphasizes that financial markets, with their constant ebbs and flows, provide valuable lessons for participants, regardless of whether they actively seek or embrace those lessons. The markets serve as a dynamic classroom where investors can gain insights about economic trends, human behavior, risk management, and various other aspects of finance. However, it's essential to remain open-minded and willing to learn from the market's movements to benefit in the long run.


"The best time to make money in the market is when everybody else is nervous or afraid."

The quote implies that investing opportunities are often at their peak when there's widespread fear or uncertainty in the financial markets, as this can lead to undervalued assets. In such situations, a savvy investor may seize the opportunity to buy low and potentially profit from the recovery of asset prices over time. However, it's essential to approach investment decisions thoughtfully and consider the potential risks involved when taking advantage of market downturns.


"There's nothing more dangerous than an idea when it's the only one you have."

This quote by Richard Grasso suggests that rigid adherence to a single idea or perspective, without considering alternative viewpoints, can be detrimental. It highlights the importance of open-mindedness and the exploration of diverse ideas in order to avoid potential dangers arising from ignorance or lack of understanding.


Our systems are all go. At 9:30 Monday morning trading will resume on both markets, and the message will be given to criminals who foisted this on America that they lost.

- Richard Grasso

Resume, Trading, Given, Monday Morning

What the American people don't understand is how Merrill Lynch or AIG or Lehman Brothers can reward people, and the entity fails. Not only do the shareholders lose, but the entities lose.

- Richard Grasso

Lose, Reward, Brothers, Shareholders

It should strengthen investors' confidence. This is done through transparency, high quality financial reports, and a standardized economic market. This is not just for China, but also for the world market as a whole.

- Richard Grasso

Financial, Through, Reports, High Quality

Clearly there are always unintended consequences of any legislative or regulatory act that's taken in the heat of battle.

- Richard Grasso

Heat, Always, Regulatory, Legislative

This is a basic requirement the meaning of globalization is that we should admit that the economy of each country is dependent on the economy of all the others.

- Richard Grasso

Globalization, Country, Meaning Of

When I ran the stock exchange, it was the most successful it's been in its 200-plus-year history. And I was rewarded for success; I would not have been rewarded if we failed.

- Richard Grasso

Been, Failed, Stock Exchange, Ran

The globalization of the capital market is actually part of economic globalization. This will create a change in the entire world economy, not just restricted to some fields in some countries.

- Richard Grasso

Will, Some, Capital, Restricted

Let's take a timeout. Let's allow investors the opportunity in a period of market calm to re-examine what's happened and to deploy new strategies into the marketplace.

- Richard Grasso

New, Allow, Period, Deploy

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