Many of the most successful men I have known have never grown up. They have retained bubbling-over boyishness. They have relished wit they have indulged in humor. Furthermore, they have not allowed "dignity" to depress them into moroseness. Youthfulness of spirit is the twin brother of optimism and optimism is the stuff of which American business success is fashioned. Resist growing up!

— B. C. Forbes

Mediocre men wait for opportunity to come to them. Strong able alert men go after opportunity.

— B. C. Forbes

Money or even power can never yield happiness unless it be accompanied by the goodwill of others.

— B. C. Forbes

Opportunity can benefit no man who has not fitted himself to seize it and use it. Opportunity woos the worthy shuns the unworthy. Prepare yourself to grasp opportunity and opportunity is likely to come your way. It is not so fickle capricious and unreasoning as some complain.

— B. C. Forbes

Our future and our fate lie in our wills more than in our hands for our hands are but the instruments of our wills.

— B. C. Forbes

Pity the human being who is not able to connect faith within himself with the infinite.... He who has faith has ... an inward reservoir of courage hope confidence calmness and assuring trust that all will come out well-even though to the world it may appear to come out most badly.

— B. C. Forbes

Real riches are the riches possessed inside.

— B. C. Forbes

Search and you will find that at the base and birth of every great business organization was an enthusiast a man consumed with earnestness of purpose with confidence in his powers with faith in the worthwhileness of his endeavors.

— B. C. Forbes

The human being who lives only for himself finally reaps nothing but unhappiness. Selfishness corrodes. Unselfishness ennobles satisfies. Don't put off the joy derivable from doing helpful kindly things for others.

— B. C. Forbes

The man of fixed ingrained principles who has mapped out a straight course and has the courage and self-control to adhere to it does not find life complex. Complexities are all of our own making.

— B. C. Forbes