Andrew Carnegie kar-NAY-gee was a Scottish-American industrialist, business magnate, and philanthropist. While working for the railroad, he began making investments with many wise choices. He became one of the richest Americans in history. Empowering Andrew Carnegie quotes will enrich your perspective, bring the best out of you and inspire growth in life.
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Famous Andrew Carnegie Quotes
As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do. Andrew Carnegie
A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never failing spring in the desert. Andrew Carnegie
You cannot push any one up a ladder unless he be willing to climb a little himself. Andrew Carnegie
People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents. Andrew Carnegie
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%. Andrew Carnegie
If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes. Andrew Carnegie
The man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may take possession of anything else to which he is justly entitled. Andrew Carnegie
A man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may take possession of anything else to which he is justly entitled. Andrew Carnegie
All honor’s wounds are self inflicted. Andrew Carnegie
No man becomes rich unless he enriches others. Andrew Carnegie
Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole, clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve! Andrew Carnegie
Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. Andrew Carnegie
Every act you have ever performed since the day you were born was performed because you wanted something. Andrew Carnegie
The man who dies rich, dies disgraced. Andrew Carnegie
I would as soon leave my son a curse as the almighty dollar. Andrew Carnegie
There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration. Andrew Carnegie
I resolved to stop accumulating and begin the infinitely more serious and difficult task of wise distribution. Andrew Carnegie
All human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes. Andrew Carnegie
Whatever I engage in, I must push inordinately. Andrew Carnegie
It marks a big step in your development when you come to realize that other people can help you do a better job than you could do alone. Andrew Carnegie
Mr. Morgan buys his partners; I grow my own. Andrew Carnegie
Put all your eggs in one basket and then watch that basket. Andrew Carnegie
The way to become rich is to put all your eggs in one basket and then watch that basket. Andrew Carnegie
He that cannot reason is a fool. He that will not is a bigot. He that dare not is a slave. Andrew Carnegie
There is little success where there is little laughter. Andrew Carnegie
When fate hands us a lemon, let’s try to make lemonade. Andrew Carnegie
And while the law of competition may be sometimes hard for the individual, it is best for the race, because it ensures the survival of the fittest in every department. Andrew Carnegie
Perhaps the most tragic thing about mankind is that we are all dreaming about some magical garden over the horizon, instead of enjoying the roses that are right outside today. Andrew Carnegie
Do not look for approval except for the consciousness of doing your best. Andrew Carnegie
You cannot push anyone up a ladder unless he is willing to climb a little. Andrew Carnegie
Concentration is my motto first honesty, then industry, then concentration. Andrew Carnegie
Do your duty and a little more and the future will take care of itself. Andrew Carnegie
Concentrate your energies, your thoughts and your capital. The wise man puts all his eggs in one basket and watches the basket. Andrew Carnegie
Do real and permanent good in this world. Andrew Carnegie
He that cannot reason is a fool. He that will not is a bigot. He that dare not is a slave. Andrew Carnegie
To summarize what I have said Aim for the highest; never enter a bar room; do not touch liquor, or if at all only at meals; never speculate; never indorse beyond your surplus cash fund; make the firm’s interest yours; break orders always to save owners; concentrate; put all your eggs in one basket, and watch that basket; expenditure always within revenue; lastly, be not impatient, for, as Emerson says, no one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourselves. I congratulate poor young men upon being born to that ancient and honourable degree which renders it necessary that they should devote themselves to hard work. A basketful of bonds is the heaviest basket a young man ever had to carry. He generally gets to staggering under it. We have in this city creditable instances of such young men, who have pressed to the front rank of our best and most useful citizens. These deserve great credit. But the vast majority of the sons of rich men are unable to resist the temptations to which wealth subjects them, and sink to unworthy lives. I would almost as soon leave a young man a curse, as burden him with the almighty dollar. It is not from this class you have rivalry to fear. The partner’s sons will not trouble you much, but look out that some boys poorer, much poorer than yourselves, whose parents cannot afford to give them the advantages of a course in this institute, advantages which should give you a decided lead in the race look out that such boys do not challenge you at the post and pass you at the grand stand. Look out for the boy who has to plunge into work direct from the common school and who begins by sweeping out the office. He is the probable dark horse that you had better watch. Andrew Carnegie
There is no class so pitiably wretched as that which possesses money and nothing else. Andrew Carnegie
Here lies one who knew how to get around him men who were cleverer than himself. Andrew Carnegie
Aim for the highest. Andrew Carnegie
Pittsburgh entered the core of my heart when I was a boy and cannot be torn out. Andrew Carnegie
The men who have succeeded are men who have chosen one line and stuck to it. Andrew Carnegie
No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or to get all the credit for doing it. Andrew Carnegie
I shall argue that strong men, conversely, know when to compromise and that all principles can be compromised to serve a greater principle. Andrew Carnegie
As I grow older, I pay less attention to what people say. I just watch what they do. Andrew Carnegie
Do your duty and a little more and the future will take care of itself. Andrew Carnegie
Libraries are reservoirs of strength, grace and wit, reminders of order, calm and continuity, lakes of mental energy, neither warm nor cold, light nor dark. In any library in the world, I am at home, unselfconscious, still and absorbed. Andrew Carnegie
People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents. Andrew Carnegie
I don’t believe in God. My God is patriotism. Teach a man to be a good citizen and you have solved the problem of life. Andrew Carnegie
The first man gets the oyster, the second man gets the shell. Andrew Carnegie
Man does not live by bread alone. I have known millionaires starving for lack of the nutriment which alone can sustain all that is human in man, and I know workmen, and many so called poor men, who revel in luxuries beyond the power of those millionaires to reach. It is the mind that makes the body rich. There is no class so pitiably wretched as that which possesses money and nothing else. Money can only be the useful drudge of things immeasurably higher than itself. Exalted beyond this, as it sometimes is, it remains Caliban still and still plays the beast. My aspirations take a higher flight. Mine be it to have contributed to the enlightenment and the joys of the mind, to the things of the spirit, to all that tends to bring into the lives of the toilers of Pittsburgh sweetness and light. I hold this the noblest possible use of wealth. Andrew Carnegie
The first man gets the oyster, the second man gets the shell. Andrew Carnegie
There is little success where there is little laughter. Andrew Carnegie
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. Andrew Carnegie
And while the law of competition may be sometimes hard for the individual, it is best for the race because it ensures the survival of the fittest in every department. Andrew Carnegie
Surplus wealth is a sacred trust which its possessor is bound to administer in his lifetime for the good of the community. Andrew Carnegie
Men are developed the same way gold is mined. When gold is mined, several tons of dirt must be moved to get an ounce of gold; but one doesn’t go into the mine looking for dirt one goes in looking for the gold. Andrew Carnegie
No person will make a great business who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit. Andrew Carnegie
A sunny disposition is worth more than fortune. Young people should know that it can be cultivated; that the mind, like the body can be moved from the shade into sunshine. Andrew Carnegie
You must capture and keep the heart of the original and supremely able man before his brain can do its best. Andrew Carnegie
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. Andrew Carnegie
Immense power is acquired by assuring yourself in your secret reveries that you were born to control affairs. Andrew Carnegie
We cannot afford to lose the Negro. We have urgent need of all and more. Let us therefore turn our efforts to making the best of him. Andrew Carnegie
