I hope there will be some good news and some good profits, and

"I hope there will be some good news and some good profits, and people will realize we have a lot of outstanding executives, and a lot of companies that are doing a good job, and those are good companies to invest in." Thus spoke Don Nickles, a man whose words reflect both faith in enterprise and the deeper conviction that human effort, when guided by integrity, builds prosperity for all. His words, though born in the modern marketplace, speak to an eternal truth—the harmony between hope, labor, and trust. For what he describes is not merely the wish for gain, but the yearning for a world where diligence and honesty bear visible fruit, and where the toil of many uplifts the destiny of all.

In the heart of his message lies the ancient bond between virtue and prosperity. Nickles does not praise wealth for its own sake, but for what it reveals: the flourishing of those who work with wisdom, the rising of enterprises that honor excellence over greed. To speak of “good profits” is to speak not of excess, but of just reward—of labor meeting its due. In this spirit, his words recall the wisdom of the Greeks, who believed that prosperity, when earned through fairness, was a sign of harmony between human endeavor and divine order. A society that rewards virtue in commerce, they said, is a society in balance.

Consider the story of Andrew Carnegie, the steel magnate of another age. He too sought good profits, but not for luxury’s sake. He built schools, libraries, and foundations that strengthened the minds and spirits of the common people. He saw that wealth, when guided by conscience, becomes a tool for creation rather than corruption. His success was not only measured in numbers, but in legacy, in the way his prosperity gave birth to opportunity. So too does Nickles remind us that profit without purpose is hollow, but profit joined with principle becomes a blessing to the nation.

The hope for “good news” in Nickles’s quote is not the shallow optimism of fortune-seekers, but the hope of the builder, the citizen, and the leader. It is the belief that within every economy there are hands that labor nobly, minds that innovate faithfully, and hearts that steer commerce with conscience. He longs for a world that still believes in these things—a world that recognizes the moral value of enterprise, the dignity of effort, and the worth of those who lead not for vanity, but for service.

Yet, his words carry an unspoken warning as well: that in times of turmoil or cynicism, people may lose faith in such ideals. They may see only corruption where there is competence, only greed where there is growth. The challenge, then, is not only to create wealth, but to restore trust—to remind the people that integrity and prosperity need not be strangers. When good companies rise, when honest executives lead, when investors choose wisely and fairly, the whole nation prospers. For an economy is not a machine of profit alone—it is a living organism of trust, vision, and shared purpose.

The lesson here is both practical and profound. In your own work, seek not only success but excellence—that quiet strength that builds confidence in others. Whether you lead a team, a household, or a nation, remember that good news follows good deeds, and good profits follow good principles. Invest your time, your energy, and your faith in endeavors that uplift others. Support institutions that embody fairness, craftsmanship, and honor. Be the kind of worker—or the kind of leader—whose very presence strengthens the foundation upon which others stand.

So let this teaching ring through the ages: prosperity and morality are not enemies, but allies, if only men and women have the courage to join them. A thriving world depends not upon the few who hoard wealth, but upon the many who labor with virtue and vision. When you work well, when you lead justly, when you invest in what is right—you become the architect of good news for generations yet unborn.

And in that harmony between hope and effort, as Don Nickles reminds us, lies the true wealth of nations—not merely in coins or contracts, but in the enduring faith that honest work, guided by wisdom, will always find its reward.