You live on a street that the city has not paved in twenty years. The manhole covers on the sewers are six inches above the pavement level, and your car just got a flat tire driving over one. Compose a formal letter of complaint to the City Council demanding payment for your tire and repair of the road.​

Can you summarize this? it takes time and caution to perfect anything which must be concealed. it takes time to crush men who are pursuing legitimate trade. but one of mr. rockefeller’s most impressive characteristics is patience. there never was a more patient man, or one who could dare more while he waited. the folly of hurrying, the folly of discouragement, for one who would succeed, went hand in hand. everything must be ready before he acted, but while you wait you must prepare, must think, work. "you must put in, if you would take out." his instinct for the money opportunity in things was amazing, his perception of the value of seizing this or that particular invention, plant, market, was unerring.