A Verse Digest of P. T. Barnum’s The Art of Money Getting (1880)
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KNOW HOW TO LIVE ON LESS
we are born free and equal
a glorious truth in one sense, yet
we are not all born equally rich
we never shall be
there is a man who has
income of fifty thousand
(I have but one thousand)
I knew that fellow when he was poor
he is rich and thinks he is better
I will show him I am as good as he
I will buy a horse and buggy
no, I cannot do that
but I will go and hire one
and ride on the same road
and prove I am as good as he
you can prove
that you are
as good as he
you have to behave as well as he
you cannot make believe you are rich
waste your time and spend your money
your wife will scrub her fingers off at home
buy tea two ounces at a time
and everything else in proportion
keep up appearances and deceive nobody
she will sit in a pew next to her neighbor
in order to prove that she is her equal
you will not get ahead if vanity and envy take the lead
we believe the majority ought to rule
we ignore that principle in regard to fashion
a handful of people run up a false standard of perfection
endeavoring to rise to that standard, we keep ourselves poor
much wiser to be a law unto ourselves
and regulate our out-go by our income
and lay up something for a rainy day
be sensible on the subject of money-getting
like causes produces like effects
you cannot accumulate a fortune
taking the road to poverty
those who live fully to their means
without thought of reverse
never attain independence
cut unnecessary expenses
feel a great self-denial
live in a smaller house
with less expensive furniture
less company
less costly clothing
fewer servants
a less number of parties
if they try the plan
of laying a nest-egg
they will be surprised
at the pleasure derived
from adding to their pile
the old suit of clothes
the old bonnet and dress
answer another season
spring water will taste better than champagne
a cold bath and a brisk walk will prove exhilarating
the pleasures of saving
thousands are poor and tens of thousands made so
in consequence of laying too broad a platform
know how to live on less
secure more solid enjoyment
prosperity is a severe ordeal
especially sudden prosperity
easy come, easy go
an old and true proverb
pride and vanity
gnaw the vitals of
worldly possessions
small or great
begin to prosper
commence expending
in a short time expenses
swallow income
Money Getting is a verse digest of P.T. Barnum’s The Art of Money Getting (1880)