Vanderbilt Family

"It is not according to my mode of doing things to bring a suit against a man that I have the power in my own hands to punish.… The law, as I view it, goes too slow for me when I have the remedy in my own hands.… I for one will never go to law when I have got the power in my own hands to see myself right. Let the other parties go to law if they want, but by God I think I know what the law is; I have had enough of it."

"I would recommend them all [other citizens] to pursue the course that I pursue."

"Gentlemen: You have undertaken to cheat me. I won't sue you, for law is too slow. I'll ruin you."

"The public be damned!"