P. T. Barnum

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.

In fact, as a general thing, money-getters are the benefactors of our race.

The best kind of charity is to help those who are willing to help themselves.

Politeness and civility are the best capital ever invested in business.

The plan of "counting the chickens before they are hatched" is an error of ancient date, but it does not seem to improve by age.

Money is in some respects like fire; it is a very excellent servant but a terrible master.

But however mysterious is nature, however ignorant the doctor, however imperfect the present state of physical science, the patronage and the success of quacks and quackeries are infinitely more wonderful than those of honest and laborious …

A little reflection will show that humbug is an astonishingly wide-spread phenomenon — in fact almost universal. And this is true, although we exclude crimes and arrant swindles from the definition of it, according to the somewhat careful …

If we could have a full exposure of "the tricks of trade" of all sorts, of humbugs and deceivers of past times, religious, political, financial, scientific, quackish and so forth, we might perhaps look for a somewhat wiser generation to …