Portrait of J.P. Morgan

J.P. Morgan

Banking magnate

Modern influential 132 sayings

Sayings by J.P. Morgan

I owe the public nothing.

1912 — Testimony before the Pujo Committee
Wisdom Confirmed

If you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it.

late 1800s/early 1900s — Attributed, regarding his yacht 'Corsair'
Wisdom Confirmed

The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.

unknown — Attributed, often cited in motivational contexts
Wisdom Confirmed

I can do a tremendous lot of work in a short time if I want to.

unknown — Attributed, cited in 'J.P. Morgan: An Intimate Biography'
Wisdom Unverifiable

I can do a tremendous lot of work in a short time if I want to.

unknown — Attributed, cited in 'J.P. Morgan: An Intimate Biography'
Wisdom Disputed

The way to make money is to buy when blood is running in the streets.

unknown — Attributed, widely cited as a market philosophy
Money & Business Unverifiable

The way to make money is to buy when blood is running in the streets.

unknown — Attributed, widely cited as a market philosophy
Money & Business Disputed

The greatest crime of the age is to be poor.

unknown — Attributed, often cited as a cynical view of wealth
Justice & Rights Unverifiable

The greatest crime of the age is to be poor.

unknown — Attributed, often cited as a cynical view of wealth
Justice & Rights Disputed

I like a little competition. It makes me work harder.

unknown — Attributed, cited in 'Morgan: American Financier'
Wisdom Unverifiable

I like a little competition. It makes me work harder.

unknown — Attributed, cited in 'Morgan: American Financier'
Wisdom Disputed

No price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.

unknown — Attributed, often cited in discussions of independence
Wisdom Unverifiable

No price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.

unknown — Attributed, often cited in discussions of independence
Wisdom Disputed

I am not a money man. I am a banking man.

unknown — Attributed, often cited to distinguish his role from mere wealth accumulation
Money & Business Unverifiable

I am not a money man. I am a banking man.

unknown — Attributed, often cited to distinguish his role from mere wealth accumulation
Money & Business Disputed

The trouble with you, Mr. Carnegie, is that you have never been able to get over your Scotch thrift.

early 1900s — Remark to Andrew Carnegie
Wisdom Unverifiable

The trouble with you, Mr. Carnegie, is that you have never been able to get over your Scotch thrift.

early 1900s — Remark to Andrew Carnegie
Wisdom Disputed

The one thing that I know that I do not know is a fool.

unknown — Attributed, often cited as a measure of his pragmatism
Wisdom Unverifiable

The one thing that I know that I do not know is a fool.

unknown — Attributed, often cited as a measure of his pragmatism
Wisdom Disputed

You can't be a first-class man with a third-class mind.

unknown — Attributed, often cited in discussions of business acumen
Wisdom Unverifiable
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