Malcolm Forbes Quotes

Powerful Malcolm Forbes for Daily Growth

About Malcolm Forbes

**Malcolm S. Forbes** (July 19, 1919 – February 24, 1990) was an American entrepreneur, publisher, and philanthropist, best known for his colorful personality, love of life, and the Forbes magazine empire he expanded significantly during his tenure. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Forbes was the son of Bertie Charles Forbes, the founder of Forbes magazine. Growing up amidst wealth, he developed an early interest in business and entrepreneurship. After serving in World War II, he worked briefly for his father's publication before venturing into various business ventures. In 1954, Malcolm took over the publishing company from his ailing father and transformed it into a dominant force in the world of financial journalism. Under his leadership, Forbes expanded its reach, increased its circulation, and diversified its content to include lists such as "The Richest People in America" and "The World's Biggest Corporations." Forbes was also known for his adventurous spirit, often embarking on extravagant journeys around the world aboard his private aircraft, the Copper Dragon. These adventures, along with his larger-than-life personality, earned him numerous accolades and a significant following. Despite his success, Forbes remained a philanthropist at heart, donating generously to various causes and founding the Forbes Foundation in 1961. He also wrote several books, including "Living It Up: Adventures of a Global Power Broker," which provided insights into his life and business philosophy. Malcolm S. Forbes passed away in 1990 at the age of 70, leaving behind an indelible mark on business journalism, philanthropy, and popular culture. His legacy continues to inspire entrepreneurs and adventurers alike. Some notable quotes from Malcolm Forbes include: "He who dies with the most toys wins," "Business is a great deal like show business - it's all in the presentation," and "Wealth is the ability to fully experience life."

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"He who dies rich, dies disgraced."

This quote by Malcolm Forbes suggests that accumulating wealth beyond one's needs during life is a form of moral failing or lack of social responsibility. The implication is that true success and fulfillment come from using wealth to make a positive impact on others, rather than hoarding it for personal gain. In other words, the value of a person lies not in their wealth but in their character, kindness, and contributions to society.


"Capitalism is an economy in which the middleman is eliminated and everybody buys direct from the producer, or produces for himself."

This quote by Malcolm Forbs highlights the essence of capitalism as a system where transactions occur directly between producers (or creators) and consumers, bypassing intermediaries like wholesalers or retailers. By encouraging self-sufficiency and direct sales, this model promotes efficiency and reduces costs. In essence, it signifies an economy that fosters individual initiative, innovation, and eliminates unnecessary layers of business, ultimately benefiting both producers and consumers.


"Business opportunities are like buses, there's always another one coming."

This quote suggests that just as buses run on a schedule with regular intervals, business opportunities also present themselves consistently over time. The implication is that while one opportunity might pass you by (like a missed bus), there will be more to come in the future. It encourages resilience and optimism among entrepreneurs, emphasizing that they should keep looking for the next opportunity instead of becoming discouraged when one slips away.


"Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome."

This quote emphasizes that success is not solely about reaching a specific goal or destination, but rather it's about the journey and process of achieving it. The "doing" refers to the actions, efforts, and experiences gained along the way. It suggests that personal growth, skills development, and the enjoyment of the journey are integral parts of success, not just the end result. In essence, it encourages individuals to focus on making progress, learning from their experiences, and finding joy in the process rather than solely concentrating on the final outcome.


"Too many people spend money they earned.. to buy things they don't want.. to impress people that they don't like."

This quote by Malcolm Forbes highlights the futility of material possessions in seeking social validation. He suggests that some individuals may prioritize acquiring expensive items, not because they genuinely desire them, but rather to create a false impression among people who may not even matter to them. The message encourages reflection on personal values and spending habits, emphasizing that genuine happiness and self-worth cannot be bought or acquired through material possessions, but come from within and authentic relationships with others.


Few businessmen are capable of being in politics, they don't understand the democratic process, they have neither the tolerance or the depth it takes. Democracy isn't a business.

- Malcolm Forbes

Business, Politics, Process, Depth

Elected leaders who forget how they got there won't the next time.

- Malcolm Forbes

Next, How, Elected, Next Time

Diamonds are nothing more than chunks of coal that stuck to their jobs.

- Malcolm Forbes

Diamonds, More, Chunks, Stuck

Anyone who says businessmen deal in facts, not fiction, has never read old five-year projections.

- Malcolm Forbes

Never, Deal, Read, Businessmen

Diversity: the art of thinking independently together.

- Malcolm Forbes

Art, Diversity, Independence, Together

Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.

- Malcolm Forbes

Undervalue, Too, Many, Too Many People

If you don't know what to do with many of the papers piled on your desk, stick a dozen colleagues initials on them and pass them along. When in doubt, route.

- Malcolm Forbes

Doubt, Pass, Them, Piled

Being right half the time beats being half-right all the time.

- Malcolm Forbes

Being, Half, Beats, Half The Time

Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.

- Malcolm Forbes

Education, Purpose, Mind, Open

Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat.

- Malcolm Forbes

Victory, Defeat, Known, Sweetest

Never hire someone who knows less than you do about what he's hired to do.

- Malcolm Forbes

Never, Someone, Hire, Hired

It is all one to me if a man comes from Sing Sing Prison or Harvard. We hire a man, not his history.

- Malcolm Forbes

History, Hire, His, Harvard

Presence is more than just being there.

- Malcolm Forbes

More, Than, Being, Presence

If you never budge, don't expect a push.

- Malcolm Forbes

Never, You, Expect, Push

If you expect nothing, you're apt to be surprised. You'll get it.

- Malcolm Forbes

Nothing, Expect, Apt, Surprised

It's more fun to arrive a conclusion than to justify it.

- Malcolm Forbes

More, Conclusion, Arrive, Justify

Thinking well to be wise: planning well, wiser: doing well wisest and best of all.

- Malcolm Forbes

Planning, Doing, Wiser, Wisest

Those who enjoy responsibility usually get it; those who merely like exercising authority usually lose it.

- Malcolm Forbes

Responsibility, Like, Get, Exercising

It's so much easier to suggest solutions when you don't know too much about the problem.

- Malcolm Forbes

Solutions, About, Suggest, Easier

Success follows doing what you want to do. There is no other way to be successful.

- Malcolm Forbes

Success, Doing, Other, Successful

What's an expert? I read somewhere, that the more a man knows, the more he knows, he doesn't know. So I suppose one definition of an expert would be someone who doesn't admit out loud that he knows enough about a subject to know he doesn't really know how much.

- Malcolm Forbes

Expert, About, Subject, Knows

If you have a job without any aggravations, you don't have a job.

- Malcolm Forbes

You, Without, Any, Job

The best vision is insight.

- Malcolm Forbes

Best, Vision, Insight

Keeping score of old scores and scars, getting even and one-upping, always makes you less than you are.

- Malcolm Forbes

Always, Keeping, Scores, Scars

People who matter are most aware that everyone else does too.

- Malcolm Forbes

Everyone, Aware, Most, Everyone Else

When you cease to dream you cease to live.

- Malcolm Forbes

Dreams, Dream, Cease, Live

When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always get worse. And when they are, we find hope in the thought that things are so bad they have to get better.

- Malcolm Forbes

Thought, Bad, Always, Comfort

By the time we've made it, we've had it.

- Malcolm Forbes

Time, Made, Had, By The Time

People who never get carried away should be.

- Malcolm Forbes

Never, Away, Get, Carried

Men who never get carried away should be.

- Malcolm Forbes

Men, Never, Away, Carried

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