Mammon, n.: The god of the world’s leading religion.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Ask thy purse what thou should spend.
—Scottish Proverb
To correct a natural indifference I was placed half-way between misery and the sun. Misery kept me from believing that all was well under the sun, and the sun taught me that history wasn’t everything.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
Money may kindle, but it cannot by itself, and for very long, burn.
—Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971) Russian-born American Composer, Musician
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
A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
The sage does not hoard. Having bestowed all he has on others, he has yet more; having given all he has to others, he is richer still.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Earth gets its price for what Earth gives us,
The beggar is taxed for a corner to die in,
The priest hath his fee who comes and shrives us,
We bargain for the graves we lie in;
At the devil’s booth are all things sold,
Each ounce of dross costs its ounce of gold;
For a cap and bells our lives we pay.
Bubbles we buy with a whole soul’s tasking,
‘Tis heaven alone that is given away,
‘Tis only God may be had for the asking,
No price is set on the lavish summer;
June may be had by the poorest comer.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.
—Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American Humorist, Journalist
The trick is to make sure you don’t die waiting for prosperity to come.
—Lee Iacocca (1924–2019) American Businessperson
Let us all be happy, and live within our means, even if we have to borrow the money to do it with.
—Charles Farrar Browne (Artemus Ward) (1834–67) American Humorist, Writer
When you let money speak for you, it drowns out anything else you meant to say.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
Financiers live in a world of illusion. They count on something which they call the capital of the country, which has no existence.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
If money be not they servant, it will be thy master. The covetous man cannot so properly be said to possess wealth, as that may be said to possess him.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
We live by the Golden Rule. Those who have the gold make the rules.
—Buzzie Bavasi (1914–2008) American Baseball Executive
If you’re going to lend money make sure somebody else is around. If you’re going to give money make sure nobody else is around.
—Indian Proverb
Money is plentiful for those who understand the simple laws which govern its acquisition.
—George Samuel Clason (1874–1957) American Businessperson, Author
Don’t ever let economic alone determine your career or how you spend the majority of your time.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
There is no fortune so strong that money cannot take it.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
I’m just a retired guy who made a couple billion by being in the right place at the right time.
—Richard Rainwater (1944–2015) American Investor
The high wage begins down in the shop. If it is not created there it cannot get into pay envelopes. There will never be a system invented which will do away with the necessity for work.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
All work and no play makes jack. With enough jack, Jack needn’t be a dull boy.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
Almost any man knows how to earn money, but not one in a million knows how to spend it.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
You must acquire the habits and skills of managing a small amount of money before you can have a large amount.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
We all need money, but there are degrees of desperation.
—Anthony Burgess (1917–93) English Novelist, Critic, Composer
Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Better see rightly on a pound a week than squint on a million.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Our income are like our shoes; if too small, they gall and pinch us; but if too large, they cause us to stumble and trip.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
The little money I have – that is my wealth, but the things I have for which I would not take money, that is my treasure.
—Robert Brault
All love has something of blindness in it, but the love of money especially.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher