Here's a lot of money, now shut up

The New York Times has a piece on a recent Goldman Sachs partner reunion and discussion about how the firm has changed since the late 90's when it went public. All sorts of sniping and nostalgising about how things used to be. Interesting article if you're into the inside baseball of investment banking.

But the best line was buried deep into page one.

None of these people were willing to speak out publicly about Goldman, which, for most of them, has been the source of sizable fortunes.

And the second best was buried deep into page two.

But even people close to Goldman acknowledge that as long as the bank is making a lot of money, public opinion does not matter all that much.

Life is so simple in banking. Very clear priorities.