P. T. Barnum Quotes

The noblest art is that of making others happy

Fortune always favors the brave, and never helps a man who does not help himself.

How were the receipts today in Madison Square Garden ?

No man ever went broke overestimating the ignorance of the American public.

The common man, no matter how sharp and tough, actually enjoys having the wool pulled over his eyes, and makes it easier for the puller.

You can fool most of the people most of the time.

To me there is no picture so beautiful as smiling, bright-eyed, happy children; no music so sweet as their clear and ringing laughter.

Money is good for nothing unless you know the value of it by experience.

Whatever you do, do it with all your might. Work at it, early and late, in season and out of season, not leaving a stone unturned, and never deferring for a single hour that which can be done just as well now.

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

When a man is in the right path, he must persevere.

A lovely nook of forest scenery, or a grand rock, like a beautiful woman, depends for much of its attractiveness upon the attendance sense of freedom from whatever is low; upon a sense of purity and of romance.

You know I had rather be laughed at than not to be noticed at all.

There's no such thing as bad publicity.

Many people are gullible, and we can expect this to continue.

If you hesitate, some bolder hand will stretch out before you and get the prize.

There is a fool born every minute

We cannot all see alike, but we can all do good.

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

Advertising is like learning - a little is a dangerous thing.

Nothing draws a crowd quite like a crowd.

The bigger the humbug, the better people will like it.

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

With the young man starting in business, let him understand the value of money by earning it.

I am a showman by profession... and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me.

The foundation of success in life is good health: that is the substratum fortune; it is also the basis of happiness. A person cannot accumulate a fortune very well when he is sick.

Literature is one of the most interesting and significant expressions of humanity.

Those who really desire to attain an independence, have only set their minds upon it, and adopt the proper means, as they do in regard to any other object which they wish to accomplish, and the thing is easily done.

Engage in one kind of business only, and stick to it faithfully until you succeed, or until you conclude to abandon it. A constant hammering on one nail will generally drive it home at last, so that it can be clinched.

Your success depends on what you do yourself, with your own means

There is no class of people in the world, who have such good memories as creditors.

The possession of a perfect knowledge of your business is an absolute necessity in order to insure success.

Never attempt to catch a whale with a minnow.

The truth is, the more kind and liberal a man is, the more generous will be the patronage bestowed upon him.

If I was not a remarkably modest man, I should probably brag a little, and say that I had done what no American ever before accomplished by visiting the queen at her palace twice within eight days.

Whatever you do, do it ardently.

Every man's occupation should be beneficial to his fellow-man as well as profitable to himself. All else is vanity and folly.

You must exercise your caution in laying your plans, but be bold in carrying them out.

To forgive heals the wound, to forget heals the scar.

Advertising is like learning - a little is a dangerous thing. If a man has not the pluck to keep on advertising, all the money he has already spent is lost.

I am prouder of my title 'The Children's Friend' than if I were to be called 'The King of the World'.

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.

Constant hammering on one nail will generally drive it home at last, so that it can be clinched. When a man's undivided attention is centered on one object, his mind will constantly be suggesting improvements of value, which would escape him if his brain was occupied by a dozen different subjects at once.

Without publicity a terrible thing happens: nothing.

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 men of science and their careful experiments.

The wonders of the ages assembled for your edification, education and enjoyment - for a price.

I would rather hear the pleased laugh of a child over some feature of my exhibition than receive as I did the flattering compliments of the Prince of Wales.

I risked much, but I made much.

If I shoot at the sun, I may hit a star.

Energy and patience in business are two indispensable elements of success.