ByQuotes

T. Boone Pickens Quotes

Powerful T. Boone Pickens for Daily Growth

About T. Boone Pickens

Thomas Boone Pickens Jr., famously known as T. Boone Pickens, was an American business magnate, philanthropist, and author, born on May 22, 1928, in Wichita Falls, Texas. Known for his corporate takeovers and oil exploration ventures, he was a self-made billionaire who made significant contributions to the energy industry and American philanthropy. Pickens attended Texas A&M University on an ROTC scholarship, but his passion for business led him to leave college to work at Mesa Petroleum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He began with a $3,500 investment, which he used to drill his first well. His shrewd business strategies and knack for finding oil fields made Mesa Petroleum one of the most successful independent oil companies in the U.S. In 1969, Pickens founded BP Capital Management, a private investment firm that focused on corporate takeovers. Some of his notable acquisitions include Gulf Oil Corporation and Unocal Corporation. However, he is perhaps best known for his relentless pursuit of taking over Phillips Petroleum in the 1980s. In 2002, Pickens founded BP Capital Production Company, focusing on oil and gas exploration. He was also a prolific author, publishing books such as "The First Billion is the Hardest" (1997) and "Boone's speculations" (2005). Away from business, Pickens was deeply involved in philanthropy, particularly supporting education and medical research institutions. He pledged $500 million to Oklahoma State University, his alma mater, making it the largest donation in higher education history at that time. Pickens passed away on September 11, 2019, but his legacy continues to inspire as a model of entrepreneurial success and charitable giving.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"If you can't make it good, at least make it look good."

This quote by T. Boone Pickens emphasizes the importance of both quality and aesthetics in one's work or endeavors. In other words, if a task cannot be completed effectively (i.e., made "good"), then it should at least appear effective, making it visually appealing or presentable ("make it look good"). This notion can inspire individuals to focus not only on the substance but also on the style of their work, striving for excellence in both aspects.

"You can't take it with you, but you can send it tax-free to your heirs."

This quote emphasizes a common philosophy among some wealth accumulators, which is that material possessions or wealth cannot be taken when one dies, hence the phrase "You can't take it with you." However, it can be passed down to future generations tax-free, as suggested by "but you can send it tax-free to your heirs." In essence, the quote underscores the importance of estate planning and wealth preservation for one's family.

"Capitalism is a marvelous thing, and it will continue to be a marvelous thing as long as we don't screw it up."

This quote by T. Boone Pickens emphasizes the inherent strength and efficiency of capitalism as an economic system. He suggests that the continuation of its success depends on humanity's ability to avoid making harmful or destructive decisions. In essence, he is expressing optimism in capitalism but acknowledging that it requires responsible stewardship to maintain its benefits.

"The problem with making assumptions is that we believe they are the truth."

This quote emphasizes the danger of relying on assumptions, as they may not accurately reflect reality. Assumptions often stem from our personal beliefs or limited knowledge, but can mislead us when we perceive them as absolute truths. It's crucial to critically evaluate information and challenge our assumptions to make well-informed decisions and avoid potential pitfalls in life and business.

"In business, the key is to find a good partner, someone who complements your skills, shares your values, and whose goals match yours."

This quote emphasizes the importance of collaboration in business. Finding a suitable partner enhances the chances of success by leveraging each other's unique skills, shared values, and aligned objectives. A good partnership not only contributes to personal growth but also fosters synergy that leads to achieving common goals more efficiently than individual efforts alone. In essence, it underscores the power of teamwork in business environments.

If somebody I don't like gets in the crosshairs, I pull the trigger. But I don't hunt for them.

- T. Boone Pickens

Pull, Like, Hunt, Trigger

Natural gas is better distributed than any other fuel in the United States. It's down every street and up every alley. There's a pipeline.

- T. Boone Pickens

Other, United, United States, Distributed

If you don't have a refinery operating, it's hard to use oil that's available.

- T. Boone Pickens

Oil, Use, Available, Refinery

I was very fortunate in my gene mix. The gambling instincts I inherited from my father were matched by my mother's gift for analysis.

- T. Boone Pickens

Gift, Very, Gene, Inherited

You can't invest in natural gas on a daily basis. It's too volatile. But if you think of natural gas as a long-term holding, then you push your profit horizon out. A long-term time horizon would be at least two years.

- T. Boone Pickens

Invest, Your, Least, Profit

We're going to have shortages and prices are going to go up. Gasoline is going to be extremely tight for us.

- T. Boone Pickens

Go, Going, Extremely, Shortages

Never Googled myself. I use a computer for market quotes and news, but I've never Googled myself. But I have visited their headquarters.

- T. Boone Pickens

Myself, News, Use, Headquarters

There's no question that tar sands in Canada are probably the largest source of oil available to the U.S. over a long period of time. There's as much oil in the tar sands probably as there is in Saudi Arabia. The problem is, there's a huge capital requirement to develop that.

- T. Boone Pickens

Available, Capital, Largest, Tar

I always saw myself as a large stockholder trying to make a difference. I wasn't raiding anybody.

- T. Boone Pickens

Always, Anybody, Large, Make A Difference

I do believe that oil production globally has peaked at 85 million barrels. And I've been very vocal about it. And what happens? The demand continues to rise. The only way you can possibly kill demand is with price. So the price of oil, gasoline, has to go up to kill the demand. Otherwise, keep the price down, the demand rises.

- T. Boone Pickens

Been, Production, Very, Possibly

It's important to understand that oil and renewables do different things. Wind and solar are for power generation, so they don't replace oil. About 70% of all oil produced is used for transportation fuel. Renewables are good projects, but they don't get us off of foreign oil.

- T. Boone Pickens

Fuel, Replace, Projects, Wind

To me, emails are a little bit frustrating. I think that the telephone is much preferred because you get the sound of the voice and the interest and everything else you can't see in an email.

- T. Boone Pickens

Voice, Sound, I Think, Everything Else

It has become cheaper to look for oil on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange than in the ground.

- T. Boone Pickens

Look, New, Cheaper, Stock Exchange

Natural gas is a better transportation fuel than gasoline, so if that's the case, it's cheaper, it's cleaner and it's a domestic resource.

- T. Boone Pickens

Environmental, Cheaper, Transportation

Natural gas is the best transportation fuel. It's better than gasoline or diesel. It's cleaner, it's cheaper, and it's domestic. Natural gas is 97 percent domestic fuel, North America.

- T. Boone Pickens

Natural, Cheaper, Diesel, Transportation

I've always believed that it's important to show a new look periodically. Predictability can lead to failure.

- T. Boone Pickens

Important, New, Always, Predictability

I have always believed that it's important to show a new look periodically. Predictability can lead to failure.

- T. Boone Pickens

Important, New, Always, Predictability

I don't like stock buybacks. I think if a company has the money to buy their stock back, then they should take that and increase the dividends. Send it back to the stockholder. Let them invest their money again from the dividends.

- T. Boone Pickens

Think, Like, I Think, Send

I'm focused on energy only. And I know what I'm talking about. And I don't want to be distracted on other things.

- T. Boone Pickens

Want, Other, About, Distracted

Far too many executives have become more concerned with the 'four P's' - pay, perks, power and prestige - rather than making profits for shareholders.

- T. Boone Pickens

Making, Profits, Executives, Perks

As long as there's political uncertainty around the energy space, stock prices will come down.

- T. Boone Pickens

Political, Will, Come, Stock

I don't care whether you use natural gas, ethanol, the battery. You can use anything, just so it's American.

- T. Boone Pickens

American, Natural, Use, Battery

The American people know something is wrong as far as energy is concerned. They don't think they are being told the truth.

- T. Boone Pickens

American, Think, Concerned, As Far As

I'm amused when Congress tries to place the blame on somebody but never themselves. I've never heard any of them ever say, 'I've made a mistake.' I do. I say I called it wrong. But they just try to find somebody to blame.

- T. Boone Pickens

Mistake, Congress, Tries, Amused

Chief executives, who themselves own few shares of their companies, have no more feeling for the average stockholder than they do for baboons in Africa.

- T. Boone Pickens

Average, Africa, Executives, Shares

The cheapest natural gas in the world is in the United States.

- T. Boone Pickens

Environmental, World, Cheapest

I don't believe in a price on carbon, because the government is going to control it and they're going to fail.

- T. Boone Pickens

Government, Fail, Going, Carbon

When you look at a commodities market you need hedgers and speculators. If you don't have one, you don't have a market. That's how it works.

- T. Boone Pickens

Look, Need, Works, Commodities

I'm a Republican. I don't want to go to heaven and have to face my family up there and tell them I voted for a Democrat.

- T. Boone Pickens

Republican, Want, Tell, Heaven

Try everything. Do everything. Nuclear. Biomass. Coal. Solar. You name it. I support them all.

- T. Boone Pickens

Name, Solar, Coal, Nuclear

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.