John D. Rockefeller was a prominent American business magnate and philanthropist. Founder of the Standard Oil Company, he is regarded as the richest American and also one of the richest men in contemporary history.
As a philanthropist, he contributed vastly towards the upliftment of the society. Throughout his life, he quoted numerous lines about charity, success, business, and society. His quotes continue to inspire us and invoke in us a different perspective even today. This article will present you with the 50 best quotes by John D. Rockefeller.
1. “I do not think there is any other quality so essential to the success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.” -John D. Rockefeller
2. “Charity is injurious unless it helps the recipient to become independent of it.” -John D. Rockefeller
3. “The secret to success is to do the common things uncommonly well.” -John D. Rockefeller
4. “I would rather hire a man with enthusiasm, than a man who knows everything.” -John D. Rockefeller
5. “Next to doing the right thing, the most important thing is to let people know you are doing the right thing.” -John D. Rockefeller
6. “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” -John D. Rockefeller
7. “Singleness of purpose is one of the chief essentials for success in life, no matter what may be one’s aim.” -John D. Rockefeller
8. “Success comes from keeping the ears open and the mouth closed.” -John D. Rockefeller
9. “The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee. And I will pay more for that ability.” -John D. Rockefeller
10. “I always tried to turn every disaster into an opportunity.” -John D. Rockefeller
11. “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.” -John D. Rockefeller
12. “A man’s wealth must be determined by the relation of his desires and expenditures to his income. If he feels rich on ten dollars and has everything else he desires, he really is rich.” -John D. Rockefeller
13. “A man has no right to occupy another man’s time unnecessarily.” -John D. Rockefeller
14. “The only thing which is of lasting benefit to a man is that which he does for himself. Money which comes to him without effort on his part is seldom a benefit and often a curse.” -John D. Rockefeller
15. “I would rather earn 1% off 100 people’s efforts than 100% of my own efforts.” -John D. Rockefeller
16. “If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.” -John D. Rockefeller
17. “I know of nothing more despicable and pathetic than a man who devotes all the hours of the waking day to the making of money for money’s sake.” -John D. Rockefeller
18. “Do you know what would hurt grandfather a great deal? To know that any of you boys should become wasteful, extravagant, careless with his money.” -John D. Rockefeller
19. “Good management consists in showing average people how to do the work of superior people.” -John D. Rockefeller
20. “God gave me my money.” -John D. Rockefeller
21. “I had no ambition to make a fortune. Mere money-making has never been my goal, I had the ambition to build.” -John D. Rockefeller
22. “Every right implies a responsibility; Every opportunity, an obligation, Every possession, a duty.” -John D. Rockefeller
23. “The common denominator for success is work.” -John D. Rockefeller
24. “Don’t blame the marketing department. The buck stops with the chief executive.” -John D. Rockefeller
25. “When Prohibition was introduced, I hoped that it would be widely supported by public opinion and the day would soon come when the evil effects of alcohol would be recognized. I have slowly and reluctantly come to believe that this has not been the result. Instead, drinking has generally increased; the speakeasy has replaced the saloon; a vast army of lawbreakers has appeared; many of our best citizens have openly ignored Prohibition; respect for the law has been greatly lessened, and crime has increased to a level never seen before.” -John D. Rockefeller
26. “I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered living.” -John D. Rockefeller
27. “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.” -John D. Rockefeller
28. “The way to make money is to buy when blood is running in the streets.” -John D. Rockefeller
29. “I can think of nothing less pleasurable than a life devoted to pleasure.” -John D. Rockefeller
30. “I always tried to turn every disaster into an opportunity.” -John D. Rockefeller
31. “If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success.” -John D. Rockefeller
32. “Who is the poorest man in the world? I tell you, the poorest man I know of is the man who has nothing but money.” -John D. Rockefeller
33. “The major fortunes in America have been made inland.” -John D. Rockefeller
34. “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.” -John D. Rockefeller
35. “After it is all over, the religion of man is his most important possession.” -John D. Rockefeller
36. “It is wrong to assume that men of immense wealth are always happy.” -John D. Rockefeller
37. “Oh, how blessed young men are who have to struggle for a foundation and beginning in life.” -John D. Rockefeller
38. “Every right implies a responsibility; Every opportunity, an obligation, Every possession, a duty.” -John D. Rockefeller
39. “I cheat my boys every chance I get. I trade with the boys and skin ’em and I just beat ’em every time I can. I want to make ’em sharp.” -John D. Rockefeller
41. “Competition is a sin.” -John D. Rockefeller
42. “How much money does it take to make a man happy? Just one more dollar.” -John D. Rockefeller
43. “Good leadership consists of showing average people how to do the work of superior people.” -John D. Rockefeller
43. “Get rich by taking something common and making it uncommon.” -John D. Rockefeller
44. “Character – not wealth, power, or position – is the supreme word.” -John D. Rockefeller
45. “I have no use for men who fail. The cause of their failure is no business of mine, but I want successful men as my associates.” -John D. Rockefeller
46. “Save when you can and not when you have to.” -John D. Rockefeller
47. “When work goes out of style we may expect to see civilization totter and fall.” -John D. Rockefeller
48. “I have made many millions but they have brought me no happiness.” -John D. Rockefeller
49. “To think! All that power and he wasn’t even rich!” -John D. Rockefeller
50. “Think of giving not only as a duty but as a privilege.” -John D. Rockefeller
