Considering the absence of legal coercion, the surprising thing is that men have for so long, and, on the whole, so reliably, adhered to what we might call the “breadwinner ethic.”
—Barbara Ehrenreich (1941–2022) American Social Critic, Essayist
Keep in mind that the true measure of an individual is how he treats a person who can do him absolutely no good.
—Ask Ann Landers (1918–2002) American Advice Columnist
No one has a corner on success. It is his who pays the price.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Nothing is to be rated higher than the value of the day.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Everything you want in life has a price connected to it. There’s a price to pay if you want to make things better, a price to pay just for leaving things as they are, a price for everything.
—Harry Browne (1933–2006) American Politician, Investor, Writer
DUCHESS: Diamonds are of most value,
They say, that have past through most jewellers’ hands.
FERDINAND: Whores, by that rule, are precious.
—John Webster (1580–1634) English Dramatist, Poet
Riches get their value from the mind of the possessor; they are blessings to those who know how to use them, and curses to those who do not.
—Terence (c.195–159 BCE) Roman Comic Dramatist
A constant struggle, a ceaseless battle to bring success from inhospitable surroundings, is the price of all great achievements.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can collect only a few and they are more beautiful if they are a few.
—Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906–2001) American Aviator, Author
The value given to the testimony of any feeling must depend on our whole philosophy, not our whole philosophy on a feeling.
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
Everything requires time. It is the only truly universal condition. All work takes place in time and uses up time. Yet most people take for granted this unique, irreplaceable, and necessary resource. Nothing else, perhaps, distinguishes effective executives as much as their tender loving care of time.
—Peter Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-born Management Consultant
No price is too low for a bear or too high for a bull.
—Common Proverb
If you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it.
—J. P. Morgan (1837–1913) American Financier, Philanthropist, Art Collector
We’re so engaged in doing things to achieve purposes of outer value that we forget that the inner value, the rapture that is associated with being alive, is what it’s all about.
—Joseph Campbell (1904–87) American Mythologist, Writer, Lecturer
One cannot but wonder at this constantly recurring phrase getting something for nothing, as if it were the peculiar and perverse ambition of disturbers of society. Except for our animal outfit, practically all we have is handed us gratis. Can the most complacent reactionary flatter himself that he invented the art of writing or the printing press, or discovered his religious, economic, and moral convictions, or any of the devices which supply him with meat and raiment or any of the sources of such pleasure as he may derive from literature or the fine arts? In short, civilization is little else than getting something for nothing.
—James Harvey Robinson (1863–1936) American Historian
The longer we live the more we think and the higher the value we put on friendship and tenderness towards parents and friends.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
You must look within for value, but must look beyond for perspective.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.
—Theophrastus (c.372–c.286 BCE) Greek Philosopher
Nothing can have value without being an object of utility.
—Karl Marx (1818–1883) German Philosopher, Economist
The three most important things a man has are, briefly, his private parts, his money, and his religious opinions.
—Samuel Butler
Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
We get paid for bringing value to the market place.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
In all our deeds, the proper value and respect for time determines success or failure.
—Malcolm X (1925–65) American Civil Rights Leader
The gods sell all things at a fair price.
—Common Proverb
Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you’re willing to pay the price.
—Vince Lombardi, Jr. (1913–70) American Football Player, Coach
Teach us that wealth is not elegance, that profusion is not magnificence, that splendor is not beauty.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Why so large a cost, having so short a lease, does thou upon your fading mansion spend?
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The value of a principle is the number of things it will explain; and there is no good theory of a disease which does not at once suggest a cure.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
You are only worth has much as you have.
—Common Proverb