Money talks…but all mine ever says is good-bye.
—Anonymous
Cash-payment never was, or could except for a few years be, the union-bond of man to man. Cash never yet paid one man fully his deserts to another; nor could it, nor can it, now or henceforth to the end of the world.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Sir, money, money, the most charming of all things: money, which will say more in one moment than the most elegant lover can in years. Perhaps you will say a man is not young; I answer he is rich. He is not genteel, handsome, witty, brave, good-humored, but he is rich, rich, rich, rich, rich—that one word contradicts everything you can say against him.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
Many people take no care of their money till they come nearly to the end of it, and others do just the same with their time.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
How quickly nature falls into revolt
When gold becomes her object!
For this the foolish over-careful fathers
Have broke their sleep with thoughts, their brains with care,
Their bones with industry.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Comparatively few people know what a million dollars actually is. To the majority it is a gaseous concept, swelling or decreasing as the occasion suggests. In the minds of politicians, perhaps more than anywhere, the notion of a million dollars has this accordion-like ability to expand or contract; if they are disposing of it, the million is a pleasing sum, reflecting warmly upon themselves; if somebody else wants it, it becomes a figure of inordinate size, not to be compassed by the rational mind.
—Robertson Davies (1913–95) Canadian Novelist, Playwright, Essayist
One false idea is that anyone can hurt you. Events can ruin your reputation, take your money, mistreat you, revenge itself upon you, deceive, betray, abandon you, but cannot hurt you.
—Vernon Howard (1918–92) American Spiritual Teacher, Philosopher
Few rich men own their own property. Their property owns them.
—Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–99) American Lawyer, Orator, Agnostic
There are no pockets in a shroud.
—Unknown
Money may kindle, but it cannot by itself, and for very long, burn.
—Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971) Russian-born American Composer, Musician
One man’s wage rise is another man’s price increase.
—Harold Wilson British Political Leader
In the old days a man who saved money was a miser; nowadays he’s a wonder.
—Unknown
The only wealth is life.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
It is an unfortunate human failing that a full pocketbook often groans more loudly than an empty stomach.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
I haven’t got as much money as some folks, but I’ve got as much impudence as any of them, and that’s the next thing to money.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
Does he council you better who bids you, Money, by right means, if you can: but by any means, make money ?
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of its filling a vacuum, it makes one. If it satisfies one want, it doubles and trebles that want another way. That was a true proverb of the wise man, rely upon it; Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure, and trouble therewith.
—Thomas Browne (1605–82) English Author, Physician
The two most beautiful words in the English language are: “Check Enclosed.”
—Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American Humorist, Journalist
Money is like manure, of very little use except it be spread.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Never stand begging for that which you have the power to earn.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
Money is flat and meant to be piled up.
—Scottish Proverb
Many good qualities are not sufficient to balance a single want—the want of money.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–1795) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
Yes! Ready money is Aladdin’s lamp.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Rule No.1: Never lose money. Rule No.2: Never forget rule No.1.
—Warren Buffett (b.1930) American Investor
A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don’t need it.
—Bob Hope (1903–2003) British-born American Comedian
The way to stop financial “joy-riding” is to arrest the chauffeur, not the automobile.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
What’s money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.
—Bob Dylan (b.1941) American Singer-songwriter
There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.
—Robert A. Heinlein (1907–88) American Science Fiction Writer