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Quotes about business

69 quotes from 46 people

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Business today consists in persuading crowds.
Gerald Stanley Lee1862–1944Often credited to T. S. Eliot
A man’s success in business today turns upon his power of getting people to believe he has something that they want.
Gerald Stanley Lee1862–1944Crowds (1913), Book II, Chapter IX.
- Success
These capitalists generally act harmoniously and in concert to fleece the people, and now that they have got into a quarrel with themselves, we are called upon to appropriate the people’s money to settle the quarrel.
Abraham Lincoln1809–1865Speech to Illinois legislature (January 1837)
I think that if I am smart in business, it’s just that I’m smart about who I am. I know what I can, can’t, will and won’t do, and if I have to be strict about that, I will.
Dolly Parton1946–2026Interview by Jancee Dunn, “Dolly Parton: At 57, the Country Legend Still Brims With Vitality”, Rolling Stone (30 October 2003)
- Character
The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would steal them away.
Ronald Reagan1911–2004
- Government
Competition has been shown to be useful up to a certain point and no further, but cooperation, which is the thing we must strive for today, begins where competition leaves off.
Franklin D. Roosevelt1882–1945Speech at the People’s Forum in Troy, New York (March 3, 1912)
- Economics
We demand that big business give the people a square deal; in return we must insist that when anyone engaged in big business honestly endeavors to do right he shall himself be given a square deal.
Theodore Roosevelt1858–1919Theodore Roosevelt — An Autobiography (1913), Appendix A
There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.
Theodore Roosevelt1858–1919The New Nationalism (1910)
- Politics
The first mistake belonging to business is the going into it.
George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax1633–1695Moral Thoughts and Reflections
Men make it such a point of honour to be fit for business that they forget to examine whether business is fit for a man.
George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax1633–1695Moral Thoughts and Reflections
Life is a business that does not cover the costs.
Arthur Schopenhauer1788–1860The World as Will and Representation (1819; 1844; 1859)
- Life & Death
It is more dangerous to be a great prophet or poet than to promote twenty companies for swindling simple folk out of their savings.
George Bernard Shaw1856–1950Misalliance (1910), Preface
- Poetry
A merchant, it has been said very properly, is not necessarily the citizen of any particular country.
Adam Smith1723–1790The Wealth of Nations (1776), Book III, Chapter IV, p. 456.In context
People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices.
Adam Smith1723–1790The Wealth of Nations (1776), Book I, Chapter X, Part II, p. 152.In context
- Economics
I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good.
Adam Smith1723–1790The Wealth of Nations (1776), Book IV, Chapter IIIn context
- Economics