Philanthropists

"Ageing brings a lot of happiness. You get fatter and more wrinkles, and that’s not so good, but there is a freedom that comes with it. The freedom is: I better do what I want to do now, because I’ll be dead soon. So this is my last chance. Also, there’s a serenity that comes – I had the career I had, good or bad, I did the best I could, and now I continue pursuing what is interesting to me."

"…I have not even been nominated for one. But it doesn’t affect me any more. This is the great thing about getting old: things that preoccupied you when you were young cease to preoccupy you. I would have loved to have had one Oscar. Well, too bad. I have six sheep, two dogs, two children."

"Because my mother was Ingrid Bergman and my father was Roberto Rossellini, I was intimidated about becoming an actress and a director…Both [in terms of her parents’ reputations upon entering the acting world]…It opened doors, but the judgment was much more severe…In the press, they said: ‘She looks like her mother, but she certainly hasn’t inherited her talent.’ It crushes you. If they say it today, you just say: well, maybe that’s true. It doesn’t hurt you so much."

"It’s easier with the paparazzi in Los Angeles, because they give you more space and don’t push you or touch you. I believe I will never only live in Israel, so Los Angeles will be home at least for the next few years."

"It's a matter of experience. I've done a lot of learning. I used to buy a lot of fashion magazines and see all the poses of the girls. I'd buy Sports Illustrated and see the specific poses and how girls look better and the best angles – it's like reading up on material for a test and learning what's good. Look at pictures of yourself and learn lights. It's a matter of exercise."

"Workers who don’t share ownership of the robots will be reduced to political powerlessness far worse than their conditions today. We have the opportunity to solve this problem during the bootstrapping period while human labor is still needed for space industry."

"People, in general, are unaware of the danger they are in, that with no way to personally go into space, no need for their labor in the face of robotic artificial intelligence, and no way to gain an ownership share in the industry, they will be left behind both economically and politically, unless steps are taken during the startup period."

"As a Senior Technical Marketing Engineer for over 18 years, I am deeply impressed by the value of the work that Sheyene is doing through her non-profit. She understands how to inspire people to not just love the subject matter, but to see the possibility of contributing to it in themselves through a few simple steps. This is a rare skill; you often get two of these at the same time, not all three."

"Creating industry on the Moon and Mars and in space with asteroids is not rocket science; it is industrial engineering where we need to adapt existing technologies to a new environment."

"I am convinced that it is possible for us to be united by our ideals, instead of divided by our differences."

"I have been following with great interest Sheyene’s activities in organizing world-wide robotics competitions. Her vision for expanding the scope and the impact of space science and engineering outreach dovetails strongly with the objectives of the Center for Lunar and Asteroid Surface Science. We are looking forward to working with Sheyene and are excited about the possibilities of the robotic competitions."

"There is so much to learn, but also so much to unlearn... And perhaps not surprisingly, even our approach to learning has changed."

"What a country does affect all the others. The solution to our global problems requires a perspective that embraces the fact that we are all in this together. The silver lining is that is forcing us to act as universal species. That´s a terrifically exciting thing."

"We’re not just dealing in willingness, humanity has to qualify to survive and it won’t depend on political or economic systems, but “the forces” pushing them to act. The universe is synergetic, life is synergetic. Don't fight forces, unite them."

"If the life of one girl changes through education, she changes three families – one, her own, second the in which she gets married into, and third the one she builds. This moves the nation on its path to progress."

"If we give it to our kids they are going to waste it. It’s best to invest it in our villages and our students. Eventually, they can do the same thing."

"I am neither an idealist, nor a dreamer. I am a doer."

"If I was to safeguard Taiwan, I would have to plant trees."

"Business is as usual. I still need to sell my vegetables, not much has changed."

"My philosophy in life is simple: If doing something makes you worried, then it must be a wrong thing. If it makes you happy, then you must have done the right thing. What others say is not important."

"What's so wonderful about Chen's achievement is not its extraordinariness but that it is so simple and matter-of-fact in its generosity. ...of all she has given away, her greatest gift is her example."

"There isn't much to talk about, because I did not enter any competition. I haven't really made any huge donations."

"Spend only what you need, and you’ll be able to save a lot!"

"I love my work. If I didn’t, would I be able to work 16 hours a day?"

"For me, the best way to live my life is to complete what I want to do. As I am grateful to my mother for giving birth to me, but regret that she lost her life while in labor, I just want to help pregnant women who need financial support to make sure they are safe while giving birth."

"I do not socialize much, hence there is no need for beautiful clothes. The clothes from the roadside stalls are good enough for me, and even then, I like to bargain."

"Everyone can do it. It's not just me. It's not how much money you make that matters, but how you use your money."

"I don't see money as being that important. After all, you can't bring it with you when you start a new life, and you can't take it with you when you leave this life."

"I feel I owe people a lot. I feel I have to make more money to help others. I feel very happy after donating money. I feel like I've done something right. It's a feeling that comes from the inside. It makes me so happy that I smile when I go to bed."

"Life is short. We are born with no material possessions and shall die the same way. Money is only useful when it is in the hands of people in need."

"My wish is that I can work till the day I collapse."

"I never understood why they chose me [for the Time 100]. I’m just a regular, insignificant vegetable vendor ... There are countless people who are more famous than me, and who have donated 10, 20, or even 100 times more money than me."

"I never told anyone about what I was doing because it was my personal business. All of a sudden, everybody knows."

"I never thought this could happen to me."

"We want women to feel more and more beautiful and self-confident. We don’t like to follow trends, we are loyal to our customers’ expectations, of people looking for high-quality products at a reasonable price"

"Belief, Follow your Instincts and Never Give Up!"

"I started from selling ties from the back of the car and from there to become an influencer in the fashion world. I’m happy my brothers and I could accomplish the American dream and I specifically making my mark in the advertising world- enjoying every day at work."

"We were driving and George stopped the car and said, 'Now look at the billboard.' It was a national campaign for McDonald‘s - 'Guess' which was very big on the left side, and small along the billboard, 'What is in a new Big Mac?' and then a picture of the new hamburger. The 'Guess' was gigantic and the rest was all small. George said, 'This is where I found the name.' We said, 'But it ‘s a hamburger.' He said, 'I love the name.' Then Maurice said, 'Okay, if you use Guess, grammatically you have to put a question mark.' Maurice put the question mark and designed the triangle."

"The ingredients are always the same: from the very beginnings, the Guess women have always been feminine, sensual, self-confident, independent, free and happy. This image is very far from that of traditional models, often too skinny and sad. Our campaigns express an intense yet smiling seduction, strongly different from the vulgarity dominating today’s world."

"The Mirat-i-Ahmadi commented that the open worship of the Jain murtis, “... mark(ed) the weakness of Islam and the decline of religious zeal.” Shantidas’s descendants obtained permission to bring those images on carts into the city, and installed them in an underground temple. The temple had long existed, and Jains used to worship there “secretly for fear of the Musalmans”."

"During the Subedari of religious-minded, noble prince, vestiges of the Temple of Chintaman situated on the side of Saraspur built by Satidas jeweller, were removed under the Prince's order and a masjid was erected on its remains. It was named Quwwat-ul-Islam."

"Being a man of considerable repute, Shantidas was unwilling to accept the wrongdoing to his religion, and personally presented the case to Shah Jahan.’ Though the lmperor had himself ordered that all newly built temples in Nanaras be pulled down,’ Shantidas’s position compelled him lo intercede. He consulted Mulla Abdul Hakim, who stated that since the structure was the property of another person, it vould not be regarded a mosque according to the Shariat (Virmizi 1995: 11). The Mirat-i-Ahmadi recorded that the !:mperor recalled Aurangzeb, and in his place appointed Dara the Governor of Gujarat. Shah Jahan issued a farman (dated ‘rd July 1648) to Ghairat Khan and other officials of the suba, Be it known to the governors, subadars and mutsaddis [officials], present and future, of the province of Gujarat, especially the one who has been worthy of various favours [here follow various honorific prefixes], viz. Ghairat Khan, who has been reliant on and gladdened by royal favours, that formerly, in respect of the temple of the leading person of the time (zubdat-al-akran), Satidas Jawahari, an exalted and blessed order had been issued to Umdat-ul-Mulk [pillar of the state] Shayista Khan to this effect: Shahzada [prince] Sultan Aurangzeb Bahadur had constructed in that place some mihrabs [prayer arches] and had given it the name of a mosque; and after that Mulla Abdal Hakim had represented to His Majesty that this building, by reason of its being the property of another person, could not be considered a mosque according to the inviolable Islamic law; a world-obeyed order, therefore obtained the honour of being issued that this building is the property of Satidas, and that because of the mihrab which the famous Prince had made in that place the above mentioned person should not be harassed and that the arch should be removed and the aforesaid building should be handed over to him. Now at this time, the world-obeyed and illustrious order has been issued that the mihrab which the victorious and illustrious Prince has consecrated may be retained and a wall be built near the same as a screen between the temple and the mihrab. Hence it is ordained that, since his exalted Majesty has, as an act of favour, granted the aforesaid temple to Santidas, he should be in possession of it as before and he may worship there according to his creed in any way he likes, and no one should obstruct or trouble him; also that some of the Faqirs (beggars) who have made their abode in that place should be turned out, and Santidas should be relieved form the troubles and quarrels on this account. And since it has been represented to His Majesty that some of the Bohras [a community of merchants who had been converted to Islam] have removed and carried away the materials of that temple, in the event of this being so, those materials should be got back from them and should be restored to the person referred to above [Santidas], and if the aforesaid materials have been used up, their price should be paid to Santidas. In this matter this order should be considered extremely urgent and there should be no deviation from or disobedience to it. Written on the twenty-first of the month of Jumad-as-Sani in the year 1058 H. [3rd July 1648]"

"Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, who visited Ahmadabad numerous times, wrote a short account of the incident, There was a Pagoda in this place, which the Muhammadans took possession of in order to turn it into a mosque. Before entering it you traverse three great courts paved with marble, and surrounded by galleries, and you are not allowed to place foot in the third without removing your shoes. The exterior of the mosque is ornamented with mosaic, the greater part of which consists of agates of different colours, Obtained from the mountains of Cambay, only two days’ journey from thence ."

"Another French traveller, Jean de Thevenot, who visited Ahmadabad in 1666, wrote a detailed report on the event, Amedabad being inhabited also by a great number of Heathens, there are Pagods, or Idol-Temples it. That which was called the Pagod of Santidas [temple of Chintaman built by Shantidas, a Jain merchant, in 1638 at a cost of nine lakh rupees] was the chief, before Auranzeb converted it into a Mosque. When he performed that Ceremonie, he caused a Cow to be killed in the place, knowing very well, that after such an Action, the Gentiles according to their Law, could worship no more therein. All round the Temple there is a Cloyster furnished with lovely Cells, beautified with Figures of Marble in relief, representing naked Women sitting after the Oriental fashion. The inside Roof of the Mosque is pretty enough, and the Walls are full of the Figures of Men and Beasts; but Auranzeb, who hath always made a shew of an affected Devotion, which at length raised him to the Throne, caused the Noses of all these Figures which added a great deal of Magnificence to that Mosque, to be beat off [broken]"

"The next monument visited was the great Jain temple built only a few years before by Shantidas Jhaveri, one of the wealthiest men of Gujarat in his day and high in favour both with Shah Jahan and after him with Aurangzeb. ...In 1638, however, when Mandelslo visited the place, this temple which he calls ‘ the principal mosque of the Banyas ’ was in all its pristine splendour and ‘ without dispute one of the noblest structures that could be seen’. ‘It was then new,’ he adds, ‘ for the Founder, who was a rich Banya merchant, named Shantidas, was living in my time. As Mandelslo’s description is the earliest account we have of this famous monument, which was desecrated only seven years after visit by the Orders of Aurangzeb, then viceroy of Gujarat (1645), we shall reproduce it at some length. It stood in the middle of a great court which was enclosed by a high wall of freestone. All about this wall on the inner side was a gallery, similar to the cloisters of the monasteries in Europe, with a large number of cells, in each of which was placed a statue in white or black marble. These figures no doubt represented the Jain Tirthankars, but Mandelslo may be forgiven when he speaks of each of them as ‘ representing a woman naked, sitting, and having her legs lying cross under her, according to the mode of the country. Some of the cells had three statues in them, namely, a large one between two smaller ones.’ At the entrance to the temple stood two elephants of black marble in life- size and on one of them was seated an effigy of the builder. The walls of the temple were adorned with figures of men and animals. At the further end of the building were the shrines consisting of three chapels divided from each other by wooden rails. In these were placed marble statues of the Tirthankars with a lighted lamp before that which stood in the central shrine. One of the priests attending the temple was busy receiving from the votaries flowers which were placed round the images, as also oil for the lamps that hung before the rails, and wheat and salt as a sacrifice. The priest had covered his mouth and nose with a piece of linen cloth so that the impurity of his breath should not profane the images."

"Amedahad being inhabited also by a great number of heathens, there are Pagods, or Idol-Temples it it. That which was called the Pagod of Santidas was the chief, before King Auranzeb converted it into a Mosque. When he performed that ceremony, he caused a cow to be killed in the place, knowing very well, that after such an action, the Gentiles according to their Law, could worship no more therein. All round the temple there is a cloyster furnished with lovely Cells, beautified with Figures of Marble in relief, representing naked Women sitting after the Oriental fashion. The inside Roof of the Mosque is pretty enough, and the Walls are full of the Figures of Men and Beasts ; but Auranzeb, who hath always made a show of an affected Devotion, which at length raised him to the Throne, caused the Noses of all these Figures which added a great deal of Magnificence to that Mosque, to be beat off."

"Ahmadabad is one of the largest towns in India, and there is a considerable trade in silken stuffs, gold and silver tapestries, and others mixed with silk ; saltpetre, sugar, ginger, both candied and plain, tamarinds, mirabolans, and indigo cakes, which are made at three leagues from Ahmadabad, at a large town called Suarkei.There was formerly a pagoda in this place, which the Musalinans seized and converted into a mosque. Before entering it you traverse three great courts paved with marble, and surrounded by galleries, but you are not allowed to place foot in the third without removing your shoes. The exterior of the mosque is ornamented with mosaic, the greater part of which consists of agates of different colours, obtained from the mountains of Cambay, only two days’ journey thence."

"The Mirat-i-Ahmadi briefly noted that when Aurangzeb arrived as Subadar in Ahmadabad in 1645, --vestiges of the Temple of Chintaman situated on the side of Saraspur built by Satidas jeweller, were removed under the Prince’s order and a Masjid was erected on its remains. It was named Quwwat-ul-Islam."

"Our soul needs to be fed on a daily basis too, as much as the body and the mind."

"Do you think that during the first five hours of the day you are the same as you are in the last five hours? No way. You’re tired, and if you’re tired, you stop listening, and the decisions you make are risky."