Money is in some respects life's fire: it is a very excellent servant, but a terrible master.
P. T. BarnumRead
No man has a right to expect to succeed in life unless he understands his business, and nobody can understand his business thoroughly unless he learns it by personal application and experience.
Interpretation
Success requires a deep understanding of one's work, gained through personal effort and experience.
P. T. Barnum emphasizes the importance of comprehending one's business to achieve success. He argues that theoretical knowledge is not enough; true mastery comes from hands-on experience and active engagement in one's work, suggesting that effort and personal involvement are essential for true understanding and subsequent success.
In practice
During a motivational speech at a business conference.
Money is in some respects life's fire: it is a very excellent servant, but a terrible master.
The common man, no matter how sharp and tough, actually enjoys having the wool pulled over his eyes, and makes it easier for the puller.
True economy consists in always making the income exceed the out-go. Wear the old clothes a little longer if necessary; dispense with the new pair of gloves; mend the old dress: live on plainer food if need be; so that, under all circumstances, unless some unforeseen accident occurs, there will be a margin in favor of the income.
No man ever went broke overestimating the ignorance of the American public.
I don't care what the newspapers say about me as long as they spell my name right.
The desire for wealth is nearly universal, and none can say it is not laudable, provided the possessor of it accepts its responsibilities, and uses it as a friend to humanity.
One of the things young people always ask me about is what is the secret to success. The secret is there is no secret. It's the basics. Blocking and tackling.
I hear the cheers when they roared and the jeers when they echoed.
I was probably born a scorer, but I was made a winner. Whatever works, whatever wins championships, wins games, that's what I do.
The speed at which a business success is recognized, furthermore, is not that important as long as the company's intrinsic value is increasing at a satisfactory rate. In fact, delayed recognition can be an advantage: It may give us the chance to buy more of a good thing at a bargain price.
I always thought money was something just to make me happy. But I’ve learned that I feel better being able to help my folks, ’cause we never had nothing. So just to see them excited about my career is more of a blessing than me actually having it for myself.
Ambition is the immoderate desire for honor.
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