“There is no feeling in this world to be compared with self-reliance–do not sacrifice that to anything else.”

The best philanthropy is constantly in search of the finalities-a search for a cause, an attempt to cure evils at their source.

I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that the world owes no man a living but that it owes every man an opportunity to make a living.

I had no ambition to make a fortune. Mere money-making has never been my goal, I had an ambition to build.

I would rather hire a man with enthusiasm, than a man who knows everything.

Giving is the secret to a healthy life. Not necessarily money, but whatever a person has to give of encouragement, sympathy, and understanding.

I shall use such influence as I have in emphasizing the basic truths common to all denominations, in lowering denominational barriers and in promoting effective cooperation among Christians of whatever creed.

I was born into it and there was nothing I could do about it. It was there, like air or food, or any other element. The only question with wealth is what you do with it.

I was trained from the beginning to work, to save. I have always regarded it a as a religious duty to get all I could honorably and to give all I could.

The impression was gaining ground with me that it was a good thing to let the money be my slave and not make myself a slave to money.

I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.

I’m glad I wrote the book to show what I found out about the [ Standard Oil Company]. I’m glad many people read my book and found out the truth.

Save when you can and not when you have to.

God gave me my money.

The success of each is dependent upon the success of the other.

Competition is a sin.

Success comes from keeping the ears open and the mouth closed.

A person who does not read is no better than one cannot read.

If you spend time with your loved ones, you get the energy to do your job better.

Winning is not always the barometer of getting better.

Practical knowledge of what works and what doesn’t work is much better. Theoretical knowledge is important, but I think practical knowledge works better.

How much better a thing it is to be envied than to be pitied.

It is better to be envied than pitied.

It is better and more satisfactory to acquit a thousand guilty persons than to put a single innocent one to death.

Those who are too idle to read, save for the purpose of amusement, may in these works acquire some acquaintance with history, which, however inaccurate, is better than none.