The best time to expand is when no one else dares to take risks
Interpretation
Seize opportunities during uncertain times when others are hesitant.
This quote by Andrew Carnegie emphasizes the importance of taking bold actions and making investments when the market is uncertain and others are fearful. It suggests that there are often significant opportunities available during challenging times, and those who are willing to take calculated risks can achieve remarkable success while others hold back.
In practice
In a speech about innovation during tough economic times.
Give me the life of the boy whose mother is nurse, seamstress, washerwoman, cook, teacher, angel, and saint, all in one, and whose father is guide, exemplar, and friend. No servants to come between. These are the boys who are born to the best fortune.
To kill a man will be considered as disgusting [in the twentieth century] as we in this day consider it disgusting to eat one.
It is not the rich man's son that the young struggler for advancement has to fear in the race for life, nor his nephew, nor his cousin. Let him look out for the dark horse in the boy who begins by sweeping out the office.
You are what you think. So just think big, believe big, act big, work big, give big, forgive big, laugh big, love big and live big.
Speculation is a parasite feeding upon values, creating none.
Don't be content with doing only your duty. Do more than your duty. It's the horse that finishes a neck ahead that wins the race.
The pleasure of work is open to anyone who can develop some specialised skill, provided that he can get satisfaction from the exercise of his skill without demanding universal applause.
When I was playing before I retired, I never really understood the appreciation and the respect that people gave me. People had treated me like a god or something, and that was very embarrassing.
The thrill of victory in business blows away the thrill of victory in sports. Business is a sport 24/7/365.
A lot of us players, if you were to ask them, feel like they have to play overseas. Why? 'Why not? Might as well do it while I can.' For a while, I felt that way - I've got to make the most money that I can. Now, do I feel like I could still play overseas? Absolutely. But I don't feel that pressure anymore.
Winning does not always mean coming in first...real victory is in arriving at the finish line with no regrets because you know you've gone all out.
One of the reasons I became a writer is that, unlike starting a band, directing movies, or acting in a theatrical production, you can do it alone. Your success and failure depend entirely on yourself.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.