Lloyd Blankfein's Most Memorable Quotes (SLIDESHOW)

Once dubbed "the master of the quip" by the New York Times, Lloyd Blankfein has made more than a few headlines with his penchant for one-liners.

The Goldman Sachs CEO, who is scheduled to testify in front of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations tomorrow about the SEC lawsuit charging the firm with securities fraud, once proclaimed that investment bankers are in the business of doing "God's work."

To prep you for the verbal fireworks expected at tomorrow's hearing, here are some of Blankfein's most memorable quotes. Tell us which ones are your favorites:

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#11 - “If I’d known you were coming, I’d have had my hair done.”

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The Goldman CEO said this to a photographer shooting his portrait back in 2007, according to the New York Times.

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The Goldman CEO said this to a photographer shooting his portrait back in 2007, according to the New York Times.

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Comments

[robbor]

07:40 AM on 05/19/2010

"It's time to bwing in de wabbit"

[mjc]

10:45 AM on 05/05/2010

Charlie Rose had Blankfein on his show for AN HOUR! Believe it not, he was a very compelling advocate of his firm..Goldman-Sachs...always quick to say that he wasn't sure whether they played a role in bringing the economy down. Smooth as silk and able to talk over Charlie easily. He did note that when Bear Sterns and Lehman Bros. went down, Goldman was left standing and they took their own measures to save the firm, essentially re-capitalizing themselves..BUT still able to accept federal help. He constantly reminded Rose of the complexity of Goldman's dealings, and, indeed, it was an education in how to cover your tracks in business. One thing was perfectly clear: he thought of Goldman-Sachs as a sort of family and most of their employees think the same way. Blankfein was very sure their's was the only firm who could handle the kind of business they are in.

[robbor]

07:44 AM on 05/19/2010

yeah, complex like a shell game

[Bonaboman]

08:22 PM on 05/04/2010

There should have been one that said, "... we'll just keep up the vig to Kevin Warsh and all will be fine".

[gmb007]

11:16 PM on 04/28/2010

Blankfein: "NO! You can't put me in a cell with Really Big Ed!! I demand to talk with my lawyer!"

Guard: "Sorry, Blankie, that ain't happening. He's in the cell next to yours. Now say hello to Ed."

*screams*

[gmb007]

08:53 PM on 04/28/2010

Just substitute "Wall Street" and "toxic derivatives":

"The question was never the immediate amount of taxation that the British were asking of the colonists. The question was whether the British had the right to do it at all. We're talking about people [the American colonists] with enormous sensitivity to the dangers of power. If you conceded the right to Parliament to tax and if there was no check on it, no limit, it could go on indefinitely. You could be bled white. The power to tax was the power to destroy."

—Pauline Maier, scholar

http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/popup_stampact.html

[gmb007]

08:38 PM on 04/28/2010

More tar and feathers, people...

http://worldvisionportal.org/blog/index.php/2010/02/19/is-tar-feathers-punishment-of-congress-considered-terrorism/

Hey, if it was good enough for Colonial America, it's good enough for me.

It would most certainly cure "Goldman Sachs Syndrome" and usher in a new era of honesty on Wall Street.

[gmb007]

08:02 PM on 04/28/2010

"I know I could slit my wrists and people would cheer." ~ Lloyd Blankfein

Don’t you dare, Blankfein! We’ve got BIG plans for you. First, you’ll be tarred and feathered*...then staked out in the midday sun, smeared with honey, near giant ant hills...then drawn and quartered - then the REAL torture begins...

American Revolution - The Stamp Act Riots and Tar and Feathering
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/popup_stampact.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tar_and_feather

[cincinnati]

03:49 PM on 04/28/2010

Maybe liberals need to find some exceptions for torture and cruel treatment, like for the evil and greedy bankers! !?

Throw an army of fed's after them, don't let any wimpy judge toss out key evidence like one did recently, and put them in prisons that do not have tennis courts or other nice things. If kids go to jail for 5-10 years for stealing thousands then they deserve at least 20-30 !

[catbite]

10:52 AM on 04/28/2010

Blankfein should be doing voice overs for cartoons. Just saying.

[Retrofuturistic]

01:17 PM on 04/27/2010

You really have to watch out for anyone who says he is "doing God's work". When you hear that a lot, as we all did during the Bush administration, it's a really big clue that a lot of people are about to get screwed. Be very nervous whenever you hear that, no matter where you are, even in church, especially in church....

[roybattyjunior]

02:36 AM on 04/29/2010

That comment infuriated me at first as well. I've heard since then that Blankfein has an irreverent sense of humor so I actually chuckle when I hear this quote repeated...I mean, if a guy can joke like that he can't be all that bad...can he?

[Carol Mason Tregenza]

12:14 PM on 04/27/2010

At least when our Veep let's go with a blooper it's funny..this is just tragic, if not downright criminal. Shame to him "doing God's work", where does that come from????...unbelievable.

[PhilipTaylor]

01:29 AM on 04/27/2010

BLANKFE1N QUOTES:

June 2007 – "I haven't felt this good since July 1998 (Russian Ruble Collapse)," Blankfein said about the markets! G0LDMAN SHORTED THE RUBLE!

"How would you look at the risk of a hurricane?" said B1ankfein to FCIC January 2010 implying derivatives were like hurricane insurance. Chair Phil Angelides interrupted: "Having sat on the board of the California Earthquake Authority, acts of God were exempt. These were acts of men and women. These were controllable."

"So, when is the money going to be paid out?" said Blankfein asked about NY Fed paying "AIG counterparties, but, to some, he seemed to mean himself." G0LDMAN NEGATIVE BETS ON HOUSING PAID $14 BILLION!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9ZzZquaXrR8/S2HmbbQQYSI/AAAAAAAAFdA/xRIbeSF_IiM/s640/AIGBailoutREALLYWorked.png

"Maybe we're at the end of the third quarter, beginning of the fourth quarter," said Blankfein April 2008 just five months before CRISIS when ex-G0LDMAN CEO Paulson RAN IN WITH BILLIONS to save G0LDMAN!

"We [GS] participated in things that were clearly wrong and have reason to regret... We apologize," B1ankfein said Nov 17th, 2009 accepting CEO of Year, just 10 Days after Times of London scorching Blankfein article.

"Is it possible to have too much ambition? Is it possible to be too successful?" B1ankfein said about G0LDMAN'S OUTRAGEOUS EMPLOYEE BONUSES. Preaching from "NEVER BE SATISFIED" SACRAMENT WHICH ALSO SAYS "MORE IS ALWAYS BETTER!"

"Investment bankers are just doing ‘God's work'," B1ankfein asserting divine purpose for G0LDMAN GREED!

[PhilipTaylor]

12:33 AM on 04/27/2010

YOU CAN MAKE A TURRD!

You can Polish it with an "AAA" label and sell it all over the World!

You can then bet it is a TURRD!

[PhilipTaylor]

12:09 AM on 04/27/2010

B1ankfein needs to STEP DOWN!

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4158713/blankfein-to-take-hot-seat-before-congress/?playlist_id=87053

[PhilipTaylor]

11:49 PM on 04/26/2010

Today B1ankfein admited he placed an “immature” trader in CHARGE of a CRIMINAL $BILLION DEAL!

THAT IS CRIMINAL so B1ankfein should be on TRIAL!