P.T. Barnum Quotes
20 quotes from P.T. Barnum — Showman, businessman, and founder of the Barnum & Bailey Circus..
“The noblest art is that of making others happy.”
“Fortune always favors the brave, and never helps a man who does not help himself.”
“Literature is one of the most interesting and significant expressions of humanity.”
“Comfort is the enemy of progress.”
“No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.”
“There's a sucker born every minute.”
“Money is a very excellent servant, but a terrible master.”
“Nothing draws a crowd quite like a crowd.”
“Be cautious and bold.”
“The foundation of success in life is good health: that is the substratum fortune; it is also the basis of happiness.”
“Exposing an illusion is not the same as revealing a truth.”
“The best kind of charity is to help those who are willing to help themselves.”
“This is a trading world, and men, women, and children, who cannot live on gravity alone, need something to satisfy their gayer, lighter moods and hours, and he who ministers to this want is in a business established by the Author of our nature.”
“He early realized that essential feature of a modern democracy, its readiness to be led to what will amuse and instruct it. His name is a proverb already, and a proverb it will continue.”
“I am "a showman" by profession, and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me. When a man is ashamed of his origin, or gets above his business, he is a poor devil, who merits the detestation of all who know him.”
“My grandfather would go farther, wait longer, work harder and contrive deeper, to carry out a practical joke, than for anything else under heaven. In this one particular, as well as in many others, I am almost sorry to say I am his counterpart.”
“The whole philosophy of life is, first "sow," then "reap." That is the way the farmer does; he plants his potatoes and corn, and sows his grain, and then goes about something else, and the time comes when he reaps. But he never reaps first and sows afterwards.”
“The right of suffrage is 'dearly and sacredly cherished by the white man'; and it is because this right is so dear and sacred, that I wish to see it extended to every educated moral man within our State, without regard to color.”
“By no means. You beat me sky high. For wherever I went, the constant inquiry was, do you know Barnum?”
“You may advertise a spurious article, and induce many people to call and buy it once, but they will denounce you as an imposter and swindler, and your business will gradually die out and leave you poor. This is right. Few people can safely depend upon chance custom. You all need to have your customers return and purchase again.”
