We throw all our attention on the utterly idle question whether A has done as well as B, when the only question is whether A has done as well as he could.

Quote by William Graham Sumner

Topics: William Graham Sumner Quotes

He who would be well taken care of must take care of himself.

He who would be well taken care of must take care of himself.

Then, again, the ability to organize and conduct industrial, commercial, or financial enterprises is rare;...

Then, again, the ability to organize and conduct industrial, commercial, or financial enterprises is rare;...

What we prepare for is what we shall get.

What we prepare for is what we shall get.

Civil liberty is the status of the man who is guaranteed by law and civil...

Civil liberty is the status of the man who is guaranteed by law and civil...

The men who start out with the notion that the world owes them a living...

The men who start out with the notion that the world owes them a living...

It is the tendency of the social burdens to crush out the middle class, and...

It is the tendency of the social burdens to crush out the middle class, and...

We are to see the development of the country pushed forward at an unprecedented rate...

We are to see the development of the country pushed forward at an unprecedented rate...

A good father believes that he does wisely to encourage enterprise, productive skill, prudent self-denial,...

A good father believes that he does wisely to encourage enterprise, productive skill, prudent self-denial,...

The great hinderance to the development of this continent has lain in the lack of...

The great hinderance to the development of this continent has lain in the lack of...

Perhaps they do not recognize themselves, for a rich man is even harder to define...

Perhaps they do not recognize themselves, for a rich man is even harder to define...

If I want to be free from any other man's dictation, I must understand that...

If I want to be free from any other man's dictation, I must understand that...

It is the supreme test of a system of government whether its machinery is adequate...

It is the supreme test of a system of government whether its machinery is adequate...

It is remarkable that jealousy of individual property in land often goes along with very...

It is remarkable that jealousy of individual property in land often goes along with very...

One thing must be granted to the rich: they are goodnatured.

One thing must be granted to the rich: they are goodnatured.

A drunkard in the gutter is just where he ought to be, according to the...

A drunkard in the gutter is just where he ought to be, according to the...

Joint-stock companies are yet in their infancy, and incorporated capital, instead of being a thing...

Joint-stock companies are yet in their infancy, and incorporated capital, instead of being a thing...

Men never cling to their dreams with such tenacity as at the moment when they...

Men never cling to their dreams with such tenacity as at the moment when they...

Men of routine or men who can do what they are told are not hard...

Men of routine or men who can do what they are told are not hard...

There is every indication that we are to see new developments of the power of...

There is every indication that we are to see new developments of the power of...

I never have known a man of ordinary common-sense who did not urge upon his...

I never have known a man of ordinary common-sense who did not urge upon his...