(putting a chart onto the overhead projector) "This chart is from petrochemicals... even more sexy an industry than insurance... when I started insurance I had to drop petrochemicals, it was too much excitement..."
(discussing joint-venture pricing) "Is this legal? Can this be done? What would Mario say?"
(on explicit collusion) "Some people like to go to the max, cooperate on everything... you'll never hear me recommend something like that."
(on collusion as a means of avoiding industry restructuring) "If you're too lazy or too dumb to cut capacity, you don't belong in business... jailhouse rock."
(on collusion in the worldwide cement industry) "You should put the president of Lafarge in jail - that would solve many problems. The Cemex guy too - though the Mexicans are harder to catch..."
(on the process of selecting deans to run the school) "New deans: typically four years, if they're good 8 years... but usually it's four..." [Subtle! -Ed.]
(on how committee efforts to improve the school typically progress) "So we write a white paper. Why is it called a white paper? Because there is nothing on it. It's just a way of cleanly burying the effort."
(on ways of improving the modeling of critical mass) "We get a little smarter, we add weights to certain people. How important is the dean?" Student: "Point-five?" Cool turns to him, smiling like he's never smiled before, for an uncomfortably long time; complete silence. He turns back to the overhead, chuckling, "Ok, let's say 10..."
