Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.
—Alexander Hamilton (c.1757–1804) American Federalist Politician, Statesman
If we agree that the bottom line of life is happiness, not success, then it makes perfect sense to say that it is the journey that counts, not reaching the destination.
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1934–2021) Hungarian-American Psychologist
As used in economics the term “capital” would be defined as follows: Capital refers to resources withheld from immediate consumption in the expectation of greater future returns. However controversial a topic this has been, capital has been the main—if not the only—way of achieving progress, even in violently anticapitalist, socialist countries. A dam, a hospital, a university, a cathedral, or a national park cannot be built without using up resources that would be easier to consume immediately, and none of them would be built at all unless they were believed to provide some greater returns in the future.
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1934–2021) Hungarian-American Psychologist
The person who minds nobody’s business but his own is probably a millionaire.
—Anonymous
Like squirrels, the best in every business do what they have learned to do without questioning their abilities – they flat out trust their skills, which is why we call this high-performance state of mind the “Trusting Mindset”.
—John Eliot (b.1971) American Psychologist, Academic
The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good people to do what he wants them to do, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
He who has never been cheated, cannot be a good businessman.
—Chinese Proverb
If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day.
If you teach a man how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.
—Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919) English Novelist, Biographer
Concentrate your strengths against your competitor’s relative weaknesses.
—Bruce D. Henderson (1915–1992) American Business Consultant
Business will continue to go where invited and remain where appreciated.
—Unknown
Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.
—Bob Galvin (1922–2011) American Business Executive
The go-between wears out a thousand sandals.
—Japanese Proverb
All business depends upon men fulfilling their responsibilities.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Make the workmanship surpass the materials.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
Drive your business, let not your business drive you.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Men who pay whole-hearted attention to business, who train themselves, who develop every power to the full, are favored by the ill-training of the average man. Despite our boasted institutions of learning, most men are only half-educated, have no clear purpose in life or little real ambition, and are not honest in the highest meaning of the word. The only wonder is that well-trained, honest, ambitious, creative men do not forge to the front more rapidly.
—Darwin P. Kingsley (1857–1932) American Insurance Executive
Business is like a wheelbarrow—it stands still until someone pushes it.
—Unknown
The business of government is to keep the government out of business – that is, unless business needs government aid
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
There is no better ballast for keeping the mind steady on its keel, and saving it from all risk of crankiness, than business.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
Not only is there little stigma attributed to going bankrupt among cutting-edge entrepreneurs, it’s even seen as a good source of business experience.
—Unknown
Rivalry is the life of trade, and the death of the trader.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
Feedback is the breakfast of champions.
—Ken Blanchard (b.1939) American Author, Management Consultant
If your advertising goes unnoticed, everything else is academic!
—William Bernbach (1911–82) American Advertising Executive
My own business always bores me to death; I prefer other people’s.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole, clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve!
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
Don’t worry about your physical shortcomings. I am no Greek God. Don’t get too much sleep and don ‘t tell anybody your troubles. Appearances count: Get a sun lamp to keep you looking as though you have just come back from somewhere expensive: maintain an elegant address even if you have to live in the attic. Never nickel when short of cash. Borrow big, but always repay promptly.
—Aristotle Onassis (1906–75) Argentine-Greek Shipping Magnate
Few great men could pass personal.
—Paul Goodman (1911–72) American Novelist, Essayist
Not because of any extraordinary talents did he succeed, but because he had a capacity on a level for business and not above it.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
Instead of focusing on their individual agendas, collaborative partnerships establish common goals. In order to address problems that lie beyond any single agency’s exclusive purview, but which concern them all, partners agree to pool resources, jointly plan, implement, and evaluate new services and procedures, and delegate individual responsibility for the outcomes of their joint efforts.
—Anonymous
To open a shop is easy, to keep it open is an art
—Chinese Proverb