When millions of people are dying of AIDS and malaria in Africa, it is hard to justify the umpteenth society gala held for the benefit of a performing arts center or an art museum. A $30 million gift to a concert hall is not philanthropy, it is a Napoleonic coronation. (William H. Gross)
When I first started doing this, I made a contribution to some organization, Harvest something or other, I think, that was working on homelessness. The next thing I knew, I got a plaque in the mail and an invitation to an awards ceremony. I never gave them another nickel. What were they spending money on plaques for? (Thomas M. Siebel)