A friendship founded on business is better than a business founded on friendship.
God gave me my money. I believe the power to make money is a gift from God . to be developed and used to the best of our ability for the good of mankind. Having been endowed with the gift I possess, I believe it is my duty to make money and still more money and to use the money I make for the good of my fellow man according to the dictates of my conscience.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that the ability to make money is a divine gift that should be used to benefit others.
John D. Rockefeller's quote reflects his belief that wealth is not only a personal achievement but also a responsibility to society. He views the talent to generate income as a blessing that should be utilized for the betterment of mankind, indicating that the pursuit of wealth should be aligned with ethical considerations and altruistic intentions. Rockefeller highlights the moral obligation that accompanies financial success, reinforcing the idea that prosperity should serve a greater purpose beyond personal gain.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about philanthropy, one might say, 'As John D. Rockefeller once stated, 'God gave me my money,' highlighting the purpose behind our earnings.
More from John D. Rockefeller
All quotes →It is wrong to assume that men of immense wealth are always happy.
The way to make money is to buy when blood is running in the streets.
This Sunday School has been of help to me, greater perhaps than any other force in my Christian life, and I can ask no better things for you than that you, and all that shall come after you in this great band of workers for Christ, shall receive the same measure of blessedness which I have been permitted to have.
The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee and I will pay more for that ability than for any other under the sun.
The person who starts out simply with the idea of getting rich won't succeed; you must have a larger ambition. There is no mystery in business success. If you do each day's task successfully, and stay faithfully within these natural operations of commercial laws which I talk so much about, and keep your head clear, you will come out all right.
Similar quotes
About the last thing I ever wanted in life was a knighthood, and even today some forty years after the event, I find it difficult to come to terms with a life where old and valued friends insist on calling me 'Sir' instead of Don, simply because they think it is protocol. But I have consciously shouldered these burdens because I felt that I was the medium through which cricket could achieve a higher status and gain maximum support from the people, not only in Australia but throughout the world.
I don't measure a man's success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom.
I remember being on film sets when I was younger, and only men got to do the cool action movies. So I thought, 'Maybe I'll get to produce one day and get to do cool stuff too,' which is what happened when we did 'Charlie's Angels.' Starting my production company was a big turning point for me.
Talent sets the floor, character sets the ceiling
If a man loves the labour of his trade, apart from any question of success or fame, the gods have called him.
I always think a successful television series is the best job because it gives you community, it doesn't demand temporary insanity the way movies do, and you can be almost a normal person.