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George Soros has made his mark as an enormously successful speculator, wise enough to largely withdraw when still way ahead of the game. The bulk of his enormous winnings is now devoted to encouraging transitional and emerging nations to become 'open societies,' open not only in the sense of freedom of commerce but - more important - tolerant of new ideas and different modes of thinking and behavior.

George Soros#84

Open societyPhilanthropyWealthSpeculationTolerance

About this quote

What does it mean?
Soros successfully speculated and now uses wealth to promote open societies that value tolerance and new ideas.
In plain terms
He made money investing and now supports free, tolerant societies.
What can you take from it?
Use financial success to promote tolerance and openness.

Where it applies

  • investing
  • foundation work
  • social change

Putting it to work

  • diversify thinking
  • support emerging nations
  • exit before late

Questions to consider

  • How should wealth be used for social good?
  • What makes a society truly open?

Another view

Philanthropy alone may not shift deep societal attitudes.

More from George Soros

  1. Half the day he engages in the most ruthless financial exploitations, ruining the lives of hundreds of thousands, even millions. The other half [of the day] he…

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  2. George Soros has a long and storied track record of being all villains to all people. Nobody that rich, and that meddlesome in international affairs - through …

    Permalink to quote #85
  3. All these countries [in East Asia] have spent 40 years trying to build up their economies and a moron like Soros comes along with a lot of money to speculate a…

    Permalink to quote #82

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