Andrew Carnegie

All honor's wounds are self-inflicted.

This, then, is held to be the duty of the man of wealth: To set an example of modest, unostentatious living, shunning display or extravagance; to provide moderately for the legitimate wants of those dependent on him; and, after doing so, to consider all surplus revenues which come to him simply as trust funds, which he is called upon to administer, and strictly bound as a matter of duty to administer in the manner which, in his judgement, is best calculated to produce the most beneficial results for the community--the man of wealth thus becoming the mere trustee and agent for his poorer brethren, bringing to their service his superior wisdom, experience, and ability to administer, doing for them better than they would or could do for themselves.

When fate hands us a lemon, let's try to make lemonade.

If the newspapers begin to publish stories about wars, and the people begin to think and talk of war in their daily conversations, they soon find themselves at war. People get that which their minds dwell upon, and this applies to a group or community or a nation of people, the same as to an individual

A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never failing spring in the desert.

Do your duty and a little more and the future will take care of itself.

The 'morality of compromise' sounds contradictory. Compromise is usually a sign of weakness, or an admission of defeat. Strong men don't compromise, it is said, and principles should never be compromised.

I shall argue that strong men, conversely, know when to compromise and that all principles can be compromised to serve a greater principle.

Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole, clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve!

There is no class so pitiably wretched as that which possesses money and nothing else.

Surplus wealth is a sacred trust which its possessor is bound to administer in his lifetime for the good of the community.

The way to become rich is to put all your eggs in one basket and then watch that basket.

The first man gets the oyster, the second man gets the shell.

No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit for doing it.

Do not look for approval except for the consciousness of doing your best.

As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.

The average person puts only 25% of his energy and ability into his work. The world takes off its hat to those who put in more than 50% of their capacity, and stands on its head for those few and far between souls who devote 100%.

You cannot push any one up a ladder unless he be willing to climb a little himself.