, businessman, scam artist
and entertainer, remembered for promoting celebrated hoax
es and for founding the circus
that became the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
.
His successes may have made him the first "show business" millionaire. Although Barnum was also an author, publisher, philanthropist, and for some time a politician, he said of himself, "I am a showman by profession...and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me," and his personal aims were "to put money in his own coffers." Barnum is widely but erroneously credited with coining the phrase "There's a sucker born every minute
."
Born in Bethel, Connecticut
, Barnum became a small-business owner in his early twenties, and founded a weekly newspaper, before moving to New York City in 1834.
The plan of "counting the chickens before they are hatched" is an error of ancient date, but it does not seem to improve by age.
Politeness and civility are the best capital ever invested in business.
The best kind of charity is to help those who are willing to help themselves.
In fact, as a general thing, money-getters are the benefactors of our race.
The desire for wealth is nearly universal, and none can say it is not laudable, provided the possessor of it accepts its responsibilities, and uses it as a friend to humanity.