Whilst you shouldn't idolise gangsters, there really is something about Arnold Rothstein that sets him apart from most folks.

Replying to @thmp made me remember his story even more, and a few quotes.

Nicknamed "The Brain" or also the "Gangster Consultant"

"Some days I make 20 bets. Some days, I make none...so I wait, plan, marshal my resources. And when I finally see an opportunity and there is a bet to make, I bet it all."

~ Arnold Rothstein

Arnold was born in New York in 1882.

He's a businessman that became the Kingpin of the Jewish mob, fixed sports betting, is accredited with being the founder of organised crime and mentored several of America's biggest crime bosses.

He also amassed a $150,000,000 fortune.

"If a man is dumb, someone is going to get the best of him, so why not you? If you don't, you're as dumb as he is"

~ Arnold Rothstein

His death, is as expected, shot for refusing to pay.

The way Arnold worked is fascinating though.

He took low level thugs and formed a hierarchy, putting responsibility upon the structure and forming an enterprise, the likes of, police had never seen before.

"There's only so much you can teach a person until you reach the limits of his capabilities."

~ Arnold Rothstein

Rothstein understood how to perform analysis, evaluation and characteristics building way ahead kf his time.

He diversified the mobs revenue streams with prohibition alcohol, racketeering, bet fixing, sports fixing, gambling institutions and laundering.

Rothstein built political, financial & other criminal connections very early on.

He combined the forces of gangs using his connections & offered services & consulting to other mobs.

You'd be wise to learn a thing or 2 about the practices he applied, because they work, clearly.

And, in the end, he agreed that its much better to apply these practices without the criminal element.

"I prefer to make my living honestly."

~ Arnold Rothstein