Words of wisdom

With parsimony a little is sufficient; without it nothing is sufficient; but frugality makes a poor man rich.
Seneca

The way to wealth is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality; that is waste neither time nor money, but make the best of both. Without industry and frugality nothing will do; with them, everything.
Franklin

Economy is a great revenue.

There are more foolish buyers than foolish sellers.

Good management is better than good income.

He that buys what he does not need must often sell what he does need.

The most important element in success is economy – economy of money and time.

Prosperity is the fruit of labour. Teach economy. That is one of the first and highest virtues. It begins with saving money.
Abraham Lincoln

Personal favourite: Many have been ruined by buying good bargains. (Anyone with an eBay habit as bad as mine knows this to be only too true)

On learning:

The many-sided mind is ripe for every prize.
M Tupper

Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.
Lord Bacon

humbleth the great man, astonisheth the common man, and puffeth up the little man.

On the value of forethought:

Let reason go before every enterprise, and counsel before every action.

Measure thrice before you cut once.

One false move may lose the game.

A little oil may save a deal of friction.


Deliberating is not delaying.

A little fore-talk may save much after-talk.

Of hasty counsel take good heed, for haste is very rarely speed.

Look before you leap; see before you go.
Tusser


Personal favourite: None pities him that's in the snare, who warned before, would not beware. (Herrick got it spot-on. There are enough unexpected challenges out there to mean we must always plan for the ones we can foresee).
Herrick

It is well to learn caution by the misfortunes of others.
Publius Syrus

On having a little common sense:

Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Colerige

The most exquisite folly is made of wisdom spun too fine.
Franklin

One pound of learning requires ten pounds of common sense to
apply it.
Persian Proverb

Our senses don't deceive us: our judgment does.
Goethe

On work and idleness:

Shun idleness. It is a rust that attaches itself to the most brilliant metals.
Voltaire

There is more trouble in having nothing to do than in having much to do.

An idle brain is the devil's workshop.

A lazy spirit is a losing spirit.

Employment brings enjoyment.