Oakes Ames Quotes

A man's neighbors or his landlord may be much cleverer than himself, and not without an indirect interest in his prosperity, but for all that his interests will be better attended to in his own keeping than in theirs.

You have to be concerned with yourself because if you're not on it all the time, nobody else is going to be.

Every man is, no doubt, by nature, first and principally recommended to his own care; and as he is fitter to take care of himself than of any other person, it is fit and right that it should be so.

I don't fight for anybody else besides myself and my family, so therefore I win.

What the majority of American children needs is to stop being pampered, stop being indulged, stop being chauffeured, stop being catered to. In the final analysis, it is not what you do for you children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.

He who would be well taken care of must take care of himself.

Don't let yourself fall into 'empty.' Keep cash in the house. Keep gas in your tank. Keep an extra roll of toilet paper squirreled away. Keep your phone charged.

So much illness is self-induced - which I can't stand. And I'm not a good nursemaid. Don't call me if you're ill.

I'm not a trust-fund child. I think my father's got a healthy work ethic, and therefore, I think it just came with the part. You've got to look after yourself.

I've learned that you have to take responsibility for yourself in this game and lead yourself through it.

Look out for Number One. If you don't, no one else will.

Let me just worry about me. I'm not worried about anyone else. If you're doing fine, great; if you're struggling, I hope things get better for you. But I've got to be worried about my career.

I don't have to go around trying to save everybody anymore; that's not my job.

Politically, economically and philosophically the motive of self-interest not only is but must...and ought to be the mainspring of human conduct...

How should a man be capable of grooming his own horse, or of furbishing his own spear and helmet, if he allows himself to become unaccustomed to tending even his own person, which is his most treasured belonging?

Nature governs man by no principle more fixed than that which leads him to pursue his interest.

At the end of the day you have got to do what's best for you and what's best for your family.

Yeah, I just handle my business.

I had always looked after myself after I stopped playing.

I know where my bread is buttered, and for the most part, I'm better off doing my own thing.

I just respect people and mind my business. I don't got time to worry about what the next man's pockets are looking like, I gotta worry about what mine are looking like and my family.

Nobody else is going to protect yourself. You've got to protect yourself.

If you can't take care of yourself, how the heck are you going to take care of everyone around you?

I just look at what is best for me.

In an ideal world, Adam Smith-like, individuals would recognize what they need to do in their own self-interest, and they will make changes happen and look after themselves.