Mark Twain Quotes about Business

A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain.

A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain.

Mark Twain

Funny, Motivational, Business

Mark Twain, R. Kent Rasmussen (1997). “The quotable Mark Twain: his essential aphorisms, witticisms & concise opinions”, McGraw-Hill/Contemporary

The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.

Mark Twain

Business, Inspiration, Humor

When everyone is looking for gold, it's a good time to be in the pick and shovel business.

Mark Twain

Business, Gold, Good Times

Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.

Mark Twain

Funny, Motivational, Business

Pudd'nhead Wilson ch. 19, "Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar" (1894)

My axiom is, to succeed in business: avoid my example.

Mark Twain

Business, Example, Succeed

Mark Twain (2016). “Mark Twain's Speeches”, p.226, Xist Publishing

It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.

Mark Twain

Business, Communication, Skills Training

Mark Twain (2015). “Bite-Size Twain: Wit and Wisdom from the Literary Legend”, p.76, St. Martin's Press

There are two times in a man's life when he should not speculate: when he can't afford it, and when he can.

Mark Twain

Life, Money, Business

Following the Equator ch. 56, "Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar" (1897)

What work I have done I have done because it has been play. If it had been work I shouldn't have done it.

Mark Twain

Business, Play, Done

Mark Twain, Gary Scharnhorst (2006). “Mark Twain: The Complete Interviews”, p.517, University of Alabama Press

There are only two forces that can carry light to all the corners of the globe... the sun in the heavens and the Associated Press down here.

Mark Twain

Business, Light, Media

Mark Twain (2013). “Autobiography of Mark Twain”, p.274, Univ of California Press

Let your secret sympathies and your compassion be always with the under dog in the fight -- this is magnanimity; but bet on the other one -- this is business.

Mark Twain

Dog, Business, Fighting

Mark Twain, William Dean Howells, Albert Bigelow Paine (2014). “The Mark Twain Autobiography + 3 Biographies: 4 Mark Twain Biographies In 1 Book: Chapters From My Autobiography By Mark Twain + My Mark Twain By William Dean Howells’ + Mark Twain A Biography By Albert Bigelow Paine + The Boys’ Life Of Mark Twain By Albert Bigelow Paine”, p.1036, e-artnow

The timid man yearns for full value and demands a tenth. The bold man strikes for double value and compromises on par.

Mark Twain

Business, Men, Double Standard

Following the Equator ch. 13, "Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar" (1897)

When we do not know a person - and also when we do - we have to judge his size by the size and nature of his achievements, as compared with the achievements of others in his special line of business - there is no other way.

Mark Twain

Business, Judging, Achievement

Mark Twain, Paul Baender (1973). “What Is Man? and Other Philosophical Writings”, p.265, Univ of California Press