What’s the best quote to live by?

As much as I love writing—and believe I’m a damn good writer—I have never been able to write my own quote to live by.

Instead, I stumbled on a quote 10 years ago while starting my first business in Shūnan, Japan (that’s a long story, btw).

So without further ado, this is…

…the best quote to live by (for me):

“I have always recognized that the object of business is to make money in an honorable fashion. I have endeavored [to remember] that the object of life is to do good.”

— Peter Cooper

Rationale:

You’ll noticed I put [to remember] in brackets.

The way I use this quote is without the need to remember, but rather to endeavor wholeheartedly to doing good.

Meaning, I am actively trying hard to help others and leave a positive impact on the world around me.

Its not something that I need to “try hard to remember” but instead, a ritualized habit in my daily pursuit to achieve success in business–and in life.

But who is Peter Cooper?

I consider myself an old soul. Which means I resonate with dead white men who dominated society in the pre-woke era.

Such as:

• Earl Nightingale
• David Ogilvy
• Ernest Hemmingway
• Henry Miller
• Napoleon Hill
• Niccolo Machiavelli
• Voltaire

Oh, let’s not forget Peter Cooper.

Peter Cooper was an American industrialist, inventor, philanthropist, and politician. All the things I resonate with (except the politics)

He’s also got Dutch/English ancestry (like me).

And that’s pretty much all I know about the guy.

Anyway…

Here’s some other quotes I like:

I collect inspirational quotes like a kid who collects cereal box toys—they’re fun at first but eventually get lost and forgotten.

Unlike a dumb kid, I keep a swipe file of all my favs.

So, here are a few quotes I love but didn’t make the cut as the quote I live my life by (organized randomly):

“No matter how far we venture in the unknown, the worst monsters are those we bring with us.”
— Takeshi Kovacs, Altered Carbon

“You’re not lost in life, you’re just early in the process.”
— Gary Vee, Internet Guru

“Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell, and advertise!”
— Ted Turner, Entrepreneur

“Facts can be so misleading, where rumors, true or false, are often revealing.”
— Hans Landa, Inglorious Bastards

“Without a family, man, alone in the world, trembles with the cold.”
— André Maurois, French Author

“Social evolution. . . may be defined as the unintended result of the intentions of great men.”
— William Hurrell Mallock, Economics Writer

“Historical progress is produced by a struggle ‘not among the community generally, to live, but a struggle amongst a small section of the community to lead, to direct, to employ, the majority in the best way.” 
— Also William Hurrell Mallock

“Art is lies that tell the truth.”
— Picasso

“You can never correct your work until you have forgotten it.”
— Voltaire

“The profit-and-loss philosophy of utilitarians and materialists finds favor among logic-choppers with half a soul.”
— Inazo Nitobe, Japanese Diplomat & Writer

“Every adversity, every failure, every heartbreak, carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” 
— Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich

“The single most powerful asset we all have is our mind. If it is trained well, it can create enormous wealth seemingly instantaneously. An untrained mind can also create extreme poverty that can crush a family for generations.”
— Robert Kiyosaki, Rich Dad Poor Dad

“I want to lead an important life. I want to do it because I was born a human being.”

— Musashi Miyamoto, The GOAT of Japanese Samurai

“Preventing conflict is the work of politics; establishing peace is the work of education.“
— Maria Montessori, Educator

“Your success is the sequel of your efforts.”

— Yamadasan, A student of mine in Japan

“Appreciate the fact that despite this being an unfair world, you got a pretty good deal. Appreciate that we have no control over our birthright, but control over our lives.”
— Redpill Theory

“Our entire currency system is imaginary; it doesn’t really exist. Its just that we are all dreaming the same dream. If anyone chooses to wake up…its over with.
— Mike Maloney, A Rich White Guy 

“Life is not easy, but with concerted effort, it can be enjoyed.”
— Voltaire, My favorite author

“Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless and add what is specifically your own.”
— Bruce Lee, Kung Fu Master

“Men are objectified for their resources.
Women are objectified for their beauty.”
— Unknown

“If we all did the things that we are fully capable of doing, we would literally astonish ourselves.”
— Thomas Edison, Inventor

“As soon as I saw you
I knew a grand adventure
Was about to happen.”
— A. A. Milne, Winnie The Pooh

“The one who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. Those who walk alone are likely to find themselves in places no one has ever been before.”
— Albert Einstein, Crazy Good Scientist

“I don’t like work—no man does—but I like what is in the work—the chance to find yourself.”
— Joseph Conrad, Polish-British Novelist

“Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get the quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves. If you work just for money, you’ll never make it, but if you love what you’re doing and you always put the customer first, success will be yours.”
— Ray Kroc, McDonalds

Hey! Thanks for stopping by and giving this a read.

Now its your turn, tell me what quote do you live by in the comments below.