Out of debt, out of danger.
—Common Proverb
The 1980s are to debt what the 1960s were to sex. The 1960s left a hangover. So will the 1980s.
—James Grant (b.1946) American Writer, Publisher
Man was lost if he went to a usurer, for the interest ran faster than a tiger upon him.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
Debt is to a man what the serpent is to the bird; its eye fascinates, its breath poisons, its coil crushes sinew and bone, its jaw is the pitiless grave.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Bankruptcy is a sacred state, a condition beyond conditions, as theologians might say, and attempts to investigate it are necessarily obscene, like spiritualism. One knows only that he has passed into it and lives beyond us, in a condition not ours.
—John Updike (1932–2009) American Novelist, Poet, Short-Story Writer
Words pay no debts.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
To the press alone, chequered as it is with abuses, the world is indebted for all the triumphs which have been gained by reason and humanity over error and oppression.
—James Madison (1751–1836) American Founding Father, Statesman, President
Buying on the installment plan makes the months shorter and the years longer.
—Unknown
God often pays debts without money.
—Irish Proverb
Debt is the worst poverty.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
It is very iniquitous to make me pay debts, you have no idea, of the pain it gives one.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Credit buying is much like being drunk. The buzz happens immediately and gives you a lift… The hangover comes the day after.
—Joyce Brothers (1927–2013) American Psychologist, Advice Columnist
Always live within your income, even if you have to borrow money to do so.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
Some people use one half their ingenuity to get into debt, and the other half to avoid paying it.
—George D. Prentice (1802–70) American Journalist, Editor, Poet
A man who owes a little can clear it off in a little time, and, if he is prudent, he will: whereas a man, who, by long negligence, owes a great deal, despairs of ever being able to pay, and therefore never looks into his accounts at all.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Energetic action on debt would make a radical difference to the prospects of many of the poorest countries in the world, at no practical cost to creditor countries.
—Kenneth Clark (1903–83) British Art Historian
Think what you do when you run in debt; you give to another power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see your creditor; will be in fear when you speak to him; will make poor, pitiful, sneaking excuses, and by degrees come to lose your veracity, and sink into base, downright lying; for the second vice is lying, the first is running in debt. A freeborn man ought not to be ashamed nor afraid to see or speak to any man living, but poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue. It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
To John I owed great obligation; but John, unhappily, thought fit to publish it to all the nation: Sure John and I are more than quit.
—Matthew Prior (1664–1721) English Poet, Diplomat
We at Chrysler borrow money the old-fashioned way. We pay it back.
—Lee Iacocca (1924–2019) American Businessperson
You know it is not my interest to pay the principal, or my principal to pay the interest.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) Irish-born British Playwright, Poet, Elected Rep
Rather go to bed with out dinner than to rise in debt.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Promises make debt, and debt makes promises.
—Dutch Proverb
Birds have bills too, and they keep on singing.
—Unknown
The payment of debts is necessary for social order. The non-payment is quite equally necessary for social order. For centuries humanity has oscillated, serenely unaware, between these two contradictory necessities.
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
A small debt produces a debtor; a large one, an enemy.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
I place economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers to be feared…. To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt…. We must make our choice between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude…. If we run into such debts, we must be taxed in our meat and drink, in our necessities and our comforts, in our labors and in our amusements…. If we can prevent the Government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of caring for them, they will be happy.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
A small debt makes a man your debtor, a large one makes him your enemy.
—Seneca the Elder (Marcus Annaeus Seneca) (c.55 BCE–c.40 CE) Roman Rhetorician
You can take a chance with any man who pays his bills on time.
—Terence (c.195–159 BCE) Roman Comic Dramatist
It is said that the world is in a state of bankruptcy, that the world owes the world more than the world can pay.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Debt is the secret foe of thrift, as vice and idleness are its open foes.—The debt-habit is the twin brother of poverty.
—Theodore T. Munger (1830–1910) American Clergyman, Theologian
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