Think Big by Donald Trump: on Principles & Values


Bill Clinton: OpEd: Won election by going where others unwilling to tread

Bush's poll ratings were very good. As it turned out, a brilliant guy and friend of mine from Arkansas, Bill Clinton, ran and won. He has the ability to think big, and his wife, Hillary, also has the ability to think big. That's why Bill Clinton won the election. When others were unwilling to tread against those huge poll numbers of George Bush, Bill Clinton had no fear. When Bush's numbers dropped like a rock, he was in a position to win. Bill Clinton is a great guy with courage.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.278 Sep 8, 2008

Donald Trump: Get used to hearing the word "no" and ignoring it

If you want to be a success, you have to get used to frequently hearing the word no and ignoring it. As a child, when your mother told you no, your father told you no, the teacher told you no, or the coach told you no, if you were a good little boy or girl, you listened to the word "no" and stopped what you were doing. That is why 98% of adults are conditioned to stop when they hear the word "no." Quitters do not get anywhere. You will not be successful if you listen to nos.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p. 27 Sep 8, 2008

Donald Trump: When someone crosses you, get even!

Q: When someone intentionally harms you or your reputation, how do you react?

A: When someone crosses you, my advice is "Get even!" That is not typical advice, but it is real-life advice. If you do not get even, you are just a schmuck! When people wrong you, go after those people, because it is a good feeling and because other people will see you doing it. I love getting even. I get screwed all the time. I go after people, and you know what? People do not play around with me as much as they do with others. They know that if they do, they are in for a big fight. Always get even. Go after people that go after you. Don't let people push you around. Always fight back and always get even. It's a

Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p. 29 Sep 8, 2008

Donald Trump: The harder I work, the luckier I get

When I was presented with the opportunity to build my first golf course, I had to think over carefully. I decided to work on golf courses because I love to gold, and I wanted to create spectacular courses to play on. I did not need to do it, but I wanted to do it.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.119-22 Sep 8, 2008

Donald Trump: Never forgive someone who is bad; always strike back

Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.199 Sep 8, 2008

Donald Trump: 1980: We handled captives in Iran poorly

Q: Mr. Trump, since you are not running for president, who do we support and how do we get started?

DT: You have a lot of good people. Rudy Giuliani is a very good person. Hillary Clinton is a very good person. We might not like what's going on right now, but we live in a very resilient country, and we'll find a way out of our problems. This country is very, very resilient. Former President Jimmy Carter is a very nice man, but he wasn't my kind of president. I had never supported him and was actually very vocal on how poorly he handled our captives in Iran. As an example, when it was announced Ronald Reagan won the election, the Iranians immediately turned them over to us. If Jimmy Carter had won, they'd probably still be there.

Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.276-7 Sep 8, 2008

Donald Trump: OpEd: Praised Hillary Clinton in 2008 election

If you want to be a success, you have to get used to frequently hearing the word no and ignoring it. As a child, when your mother told you no, your father told you no, the teacher told you no, or the coach told you no, if you were a good little boy or girl, you listened to the word "no" and stopped what you were doing. That is why 98% of adults are conditioned to stop when they hear the word "no." Quitters do not get anywhere. You will not be successful if you listen to nos. Q: Mr. Trump, since you are not running for president, who do we support and how do we get started?

DT: You have a lot of good people. Rudy Giuliani is a very good person. Hillary Clinton is a very good person. We might not like what's going on right now, but we live in a very resilient country, and we'll find a way out of our problems. This country is very, very resilient.

Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.307 Sep 8, 2008

Hillary Clinton: Praised by Donald Trump in 2008 election

During an interview with ABC's "This Week" secretary of state Hillary Clinton discusses the rise of the Tea Party and what the future may hold for them if they are victorious in November, saying "I have seen a lot of people run for office and say a lot of things and then when they have the burden of holding office and the responsibility that goes with it, I've seen them become very sobered very quickly about the challenges we face domestically and internationally." Q: Mr. Trump, since you are not running for president, who do we support and how do we get started?

DT: You have a lot of good people. Rudy Giuliani is a very good person. Hillary Clinton is a very good person. We might not like what's going on right now, but we live in a very resilient country, and we'll find a way out of our problems. This country is very, very resilient.

Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.307 Sep 8, 2008

Jimmy Carter: OpEd: Much better after presidency than he did during term

Oftentimes you will see somebody that becomes successful only because he or she has the ability to think big. A case in point is former President Jimmy Carter. He is a very nice man, but he wasn't my kind of president. Nevertheless, after President Carter's term as President was up, he asked to meet me and of course I agreed.

We had a wonderful conversation prior to getting to his point, which, was, would I consider making a $50 million contribution to the Jimmy Carter Library? Here was a man that I had not supported, had not voted for, and yet he was in my office asking for a $50 million contribution! I said to myself, and told the story many times, that Jimmy Carter, despite his image to the contrary, had an ability to think big. That's why he ran for President and others did not. As it turned out, Jimmy Carter is one of the few people who did a much better job after his Presidential term than he did during it.

Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.276-7 Sep 8, 2008

Ronald Reagan: OpEd: Sunny optimist in the midst of fighting the Cold War

Positive thinking is not merely wishful thinking. It is all about incorporating a sense of optimism into everything you while also acknowledging the negative. Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had this kind of optimism even though he faced a major challenge to England's very survival. President Ronald Reagan too, was a sunny optimist in the midst of a frightening cold war when the world could have been blown to smithereens on a whim. Reagan knew the dangers, yet he stayed positive, and he triumphed and left a great legacy. Learn how to be optimistic even in the face of large and intimidating challenges and it will revolutionize your life.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.125 Sep 8, 2008

  • The above quotations are from Think Big
    Make It Happen in Business and Life
    by Donald J. Trump and Bill Zanker.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Principles & Values.
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  • Click here for more quotes by Donald Trump on Principles & Values.
  • Click here for more quotes by Ronald Reagan on Principles & Values.
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