J. Paul Getty Business Quotations

Without the element of uncertainty, the bringing off of even, the greatest business triumph would be dull, routine, and eminently unsatisfying.

No one can possibly achieve any real and lasting success or 'get rich' in business by being a conformist.

The meek shall inherit the Earth, but not its mineral rights.

To succeed in business, to reach the top, an individual must know all it is possible to know about that business.

Patience; this is the greatest business asset. Wait for the right time to make your moves.

There are always opportunities through which businessmen can profit handsomely if they will only recognize and seize them.

There are one hundred men seeking security to one able man who is willing to risk his fortune.

I buy when other people are selling.

Build wealth as a by product of your business success. If wealth is your only objective in business, you will probably fail.

Buy when everyone else is selling and hold until everyone else is buying. That's not just a catchy slogan. It's the very essence of successful investing.

During the 1950s, Aristotle Onassis and I formed what grew to be a close friendship and association in several business ventures.

A marriage contract to me is as binding as any in business, and I have always believed in sticking to an agreement.

My love of fine art increased - the more of it I saw, the more of it I wanted to see.

A hatred of failure has always been part of my nature.

The individual who wants to reach the top in business must appreciate the might of the force of habit and must understand that practices are what create habits. He must be quick to break those habits that can break him and hasten to adopt those practices that will become the habits that help him achieve the success he desires.

A sense of thrift is essential to success in business. The businessman must discipline himself to practice economy whenever possible, in his personal life as well as his business affairs.

To build wealth today, you must be in your own business.

The individual who wants to reach the top in business must appreciate the might and force of habit. He must be quick to break those habits that can break him-and hasten to adopt those practices that will become the habits that help him achieve the success he desires.

If you can count your money, you don't have a billion dollars.

The #1 guideline to success is you must be in business for yourself. When you work for someone else, you sell your time at wholesale to your employer, who then re-sells it at retail to the customer.

You must never try to make all the money that's in a deal. Let the other fellow make some money too, because if you have a reputation for always making all the money, you won't have many deals.

The employer generally gets the employees he deserves.

What I learned at Oxford has been used to great advantage throughout my business career.

There are at least 50 cities in the world that would have liked to obtain the Getty Collection.

My yachts were, I suppose, outstanding status symbols.

My wealth is not a subject I relish discussing.

My formula for success is rise early, work late, and strike oil.