American business tycoon and philanthropist Cornelius Vanderbilt amassed his money through the railroad and shipping industries.
After working for his father's company, Vanderbilt rose through the ranks to assume command of the inland water commerce and invest in the rapidly growing railroad sector, growing his leadership positions in various industries and a good business. He was known as 'The Commodore' and was the owner of the New York Central Railroad.
Cornelius Vanderbilt was born on May 27, 1794, in Staten Island, New York, U.S. According to T. J. Stiles, his biographer, 'He significantly enhanced and enlarged the country's transportation infrastructure, transforming the very topography of the United States.
He accepted new business models and organizational structures and used them to succeed. Cornelius Vanderbilt contributed to developing the corporate economy that would characterize American life in the 21st century. Vanderbilt was the head of a wealthy, powerful family and one of the richest people in history as well as in general.
He made the initial gift to establish Nashville, Tennessee's Vanderbilt University. He died on January 4, 1877.
According to The Wealthy 100 by Robert Gunther and Michael Klepper, if Vanderbilt's total wealth as a percentage of the country's GDP in 1877 (the year of his demise) were taken and applied in the same proportion in 2007, it would be worth $143 billion in US dollars.
Cornelius Vanderbilt was honored for his enormous contributions to the railroad business in 1999 by being inducted into the North America Railway Hall of Fame.
He was admitted to the 'North American Railroad Workers and Builders' category.
On Grand Central Terminal's southern side in New York City, overlooking Park Ave. A traffic overpass to the south is a statue of Cornelius Vanderbilt.
New York and Harlem Railroad, Hudson River Railroad, New York Central Railroad, Canada Southern Railway, Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, Michigan Central Railroad, New York, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad, and West Shore Railroad are some of the railroad networks controlled by Vanderbilt.
Best Cornelius Vanderbilt Quotes
He has always been brilliant in business and trade. He has motivated people to take higher education seriously, for he was of the opinion that education can stand up against all social evils.
“I have been insane on the subject of money-making all my life.”
“I just know I could make me a heap of money.”
“Say nothing and jump quickly.”
“If I had learned education I would not have had time to learn anything else.”
“We made it – I knew all it needed was guts.”
“The more of it (money) one has the more one wants.”
''In history, as in so much of life, you pays your money and you takes your choice.”
“Never tell anyone what you are going to do till you have done it.”
"I am not afraid of my enemies, but by God, you must look out when you get among your friends."
“Ain’t got time to be sick.”
“I’m going to show ‘em Ma. You wait and see.”
“There ain’t nothing to it, except work and giving folks what they want.”
Cornelius Vanderbilt Quotes On success
Success is the ultimate reward for our struggles and these quotes from Cornelius Vanderbilt will give you a broader point of view to opt for different ways in life!
“Say nothing and jump quick.”
''What do I care about the law? Ain’t I got the power?''
“I don’t care half so much about making money as I do about making my point, and coming out ahead.”
“Got to spend some money, if you want to make anything. Can’t run a ferry that won’t run.”
“Let them do what I have done.”
“A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money.”
“The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.”
“My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors.”
“I’ve never found time to indulge more than a single ambition.”
“Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.”
“Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness.”
(Some awesome Cornelius Vanderbilt Quotes to inspire you daily)
Inspirational Cornelius Vanderbilt Quotes
You can learn very well from the mistakes of those who have been in your own field and get inspired.
“I can’t run a train as far as this permanently at a loss.”
“It is not according to my mode of doing things, to bring a suit against a man that I have the power in my own hands to punish.”
“My system of railroading is to take care of it just as careful as I would of my own household affairs, handle it just as though it was all mine; and take good care of its income; that is my aim, you know, and give that to the stockholders.”
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
“All you have to do is attend to your own business, then go ahead.”
“I don’t aim to stop with one [steam] boat.”
“I’m tired of working for somebody else.”
“I guess I’ve built a hundred steamships and steamboats… I never paid a dollar of insurance… Good vessels and good masters – that’s the best kind of insurance. Why should I pay somebody else to carry my risks?”
“You’ve got to make folks believe you’ll always run. If they can depend on you, they’ll deal with you.”
Famous Cornelius Vanderbilt Quotes
These famous quotes from Cornelius Vanderbilt will help you see through your business from a fresh perspective.
“Honesty is the best policy – when there is money in it.”
“I have always served the public to the best of my ability. Why? Because, like every other man, it is to my interest to do so.”
“If a fellow’s got guts he can always win.”
"I have been insane on the subject of moneymaking all my life."
“I have been insane on the subject of money-making all my life.”
“Got to look out for yourself. Nobody else ain’t going to do it.”
“I never tell what I’m going to do till I’ve done it.”
“If you don’t have competition, you don’t have competitors to skin.”
“Never be a minion, always be an owner.”
“Pay ready money for everything you buy, and never sell anything you don’t own.”
“There is no friendship in trade.”
“Tricks ain’t good business.”
“1) All you have to do is attend to your own business, then go ahead.
2) I never tell what I’m going to do till I’ve done it.”
- Cornelius Vanderbilt (when asked about two important rules of business).
Editorial credit: Felix Lipov / Shutterstock.com
