Alan Patricof Quotes

Investors need to get rewarded for their investment, especially in unstable countries.

Do we have to regulate derivatives? Yes, we do. 'Cause when I did this in my investments, frankly, no one knew who could pay who. But derivatives have an important place in our economy.

As long as there is cash, and the economy is running, all is well. But as a bank, we'll have to test, experiment, try a hundred different things. A few may work, a few may fail, but we have to experiment and try.

Every one says: 'Listen, I'd love to reinvest. I'd love to hire people. But I have no idea what this healthcare bill is going to do to my bottom line. I have no idea what this financial reform bill is going to do... I'm not going to step out a limb and do any of those until I know what this government is going to do to me.'

I don’t care a damn about stocks and bonds, but I don’t want to see them go down the first day I am President.

Investment in businesses creates sustainable jobs.

It doesn't take Warren Buffett to realize that when companies don't know what new rules will look like, it affects their ability to commit capital and create new jobs.

In troubled times the last thing you want to do is to stick your money into a film. It's such a gamble.

Investors have few spare tires left. Think of the image of a car on a bumpy road to an uncertain destination that has already used up its spare tire. The cash reserves of people have been eaten up by the recent market volatility.

Uncertainty is seen to retard investment independently of considerations of risk or expected return.

The year 1983 was crazy. People wanted to sell not only their investments... but also their companies.

The ultimate proof of confidence for a small-business owner is, are they hiring employees?

For a successful entrepreneur it can mean extreme wealth. But with extreme wealth comes extreme responsibility. And the responsibility for me is to invest in creating new businesses, create jobs, employ people, and to put money aside to tackle issues where we can make a difference.

In other words, Social Security is every bit as insecure as the stock market.

There are two times in a man's life when he should not speculate [on the Stock Market]: when he can't afford it, and when he can.

The big priorities will focus on the security and economic side because they really go hand in hand.

Economic freedom is a highly desirable state -- but in bust and boom we must be prepared to face the its consequences.

I think people have to be very careful with new ideas [in fiancé and economics]. What you need to worry about is when you have something that’s a really good idea, but you get too much of it too fast, like over-the-counter derivatives.

For significant job creation to occur, prospective entrepreneurs and current business owners must not fear the future or be under assault from their own government in the present.

If you have faith in our leaders of commerce, don't buy gold. If you do not have faith in them, maybe you should buy gold or silver.

I've learned that all investments have risk.

Whatever you do needs to be sustainable over time, and taking the money in the short term and taking it in a bubble - like buying an Internet stock in 2000 - may not be sustainable.

In my 40-plus years as a venture capitalist, I have come to appreciate the certainty a healthy economy provides for businesses both large and small.

If you live in the digital economy, you have to be careful to have your investment thesis squarely bolted into your reality.

One thing I never thought about in my big-company job? Cash flow. When your business has billions of dollars in revenue, you can make a lot of mistakes and still have a viable business. But in a startup, make a few hiring mistakes, and you can find yourself in real jeopardy fast.