30 Best John D. Rockefeller Quotes On Wealth & Success

Check out the best John D. Rockefeller quotes that reflect timeless wisdom on success, wealth, education, and discipline.

John D. Rockefeller was a visionary businessman, industrialist, and philanthropist who became the world’s first billionaire and one of the wealthiest individuals in history.

Born in 1839 in New York, Rockefeller founded Standard Oil in 1870 and revolutionized the oil industry through innovation, efficiency, and fierce determination.

His business acumen, strategic thinking, and relentless focus redefined the American Dream, setting the foundation for modern corporate structure and monopoly regulations.

More than just a business magnate, Rockefeller was America’s first major philanthropist, donating over $400 million in his lifetime to causes in education, public health, and scientific research through institutions like the Rockefeller Foundation.

Rockefeller’s story is a contrast of a shrewd industrialist and devoted philanthropist, offering timeless lessons in ambition, leadership, and the responsible use of success.

Here are the most famous John D. Rockefeller quotes that will motivate you to aim high, stay focused, and build something that truly lasts.

Top 10 John D. Rockefeller Quotes

1. “He who works all day has no time to make money.” — John D. Rockefeller

   

2. “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” — John D. Rockefeller

   

3. “I always tried to turn every disaster into an opportunity.” — John D. Rockefeller

   

4. “If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.” — John D. Rockefeller

   

5. “I don’t want a nation of thinkers, I want a nation of workers.” — John D. Rockefeller

   

6. “Success comes from keeping the ears open and the mouth closed.” — John D. Rockefeller

   

7. “The secret of success is to do the common things uncommonly well.” — John D. Rockefeller
8. “I would rather earn 1% off a 100 people’s efforts than 100% of my own efforts.” — John D. Rockefeller

   

9. “Good leadership consists of showing average people how to do the work of superior people.” — John D. Rockefeller
10. “I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty.” — John D. Rockefeller

Best John D. Rockefeller Quotes On Success & Money

1. “I have ways of making money that you know nothing of.” — John D. Rockefeller
2. “It is wrong to assume that men of immense wealth are always happy.” — John D. Rockefeller
3. “I can think of nothing less pleasurable than a life devoted to pleasure.” — John D. Rockefeller
4. “The way to make money is to buy when blood is running in the streets.” — John D. Rockefeller
5. “How much money does it take to make a man happy? Just one more dollar.” — John D. Rockefeller
6. “A friendship founded on business is better than a business founded on friendship.” — John D. Rockefeller
7. “The most important thing for a young man is to establish a credit… a reputation, character.” — John D. Rockefeller
8. “Singleness of purpose is one of the chief essentials for success in life, no matter what may be one’s aim.” — John D. Rockefeller
9. “If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success.” — John D. Rockefeller
10. “I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.” — John D. Rockefeller

Famous Quotes By John D. Rockefeller (Education)

1. “Competition is a sin.” — John D. Rockefeller
2. “Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege.” — John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
3. “Charity is injurious unless it helps the recipient to become independent of it.” — John D. Rockefeller
4. “Next to doing the right thing, the most important thing is to let people know you are doing the right thing.” — John D. Rockefeller
5. “The best business in the world is a well run oil company. The second best business in the world is a badly run oil company.” — John D. Rockefeller
6. “The impression was gaining ground with me that it was a good thing to let the money be my slave and not make myself a slave to money.” — John D. Rockefeller
7. “The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee and I will pay more for that ability than for any other under the sun.” — John D. Rockefeller
8. “I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that the world owes no man a living but that it owes every man an opportunity to make a living.” — John D. Rockefeller
9. “The road to happiness lies in two simple principles: find what it is that interests you and that you can do well, and when you find it put your whole soul into it-every bit of energy and ambition and natural ability you have.” — John D. Rockefeller
10. “God gave me my money. I believe the power to make money is a gift from God. to be developed and used to the best of our ability for the good of mankind. Having been endowed with the gift I possess, I believe it is my duty to make money and still more money and to use the money I make for the good of my fellow man according to the dictates of my conscience.” — John D. Rockefeller

Conclusion

Which of these John D. Rockefeller quotes and sayings inspired you the most? If we missed one of your favorites, share it with us in the comments below!

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