Business English quotes
In 1949, forecasting the relentless march of science, Popular Mechanics said “Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.”
“But what … is it good for?” –Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.
“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” –Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM, 1943
“I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won’t last out the year.” –The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957
“This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” –Western Union internal memo, 1876
“The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a ‘C,’ the idea must be feasible.” –A Yale University management professor in response to Fred Smith’s paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service. (Smith went on to found Federal Express Corp.)
“Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?” –H.M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927
“We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.” –Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962
“Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible.” –Lord Kelvin, president, Royal Society, 1895
“Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value.” –Marechal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre
“Everything that can be invented has been invented.” –Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899
“Louis Pasteur’s theory of germs is ridiculous fiction”. –Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse, 1872
“The abdomen, the chest, and the brain will forever be shut from the intrusion of the wise and humane surgeon”. –Sir John Eric Ericksen, British surgeon, appointed Surgeon- Extraordinary to Queen Victoria 1873
“640K ought to be enough for anybody.” — Bill Gates, 1981
Nothing is certain but death and taxes
“I made my money by selling too soon” Bernard Baruch (1870-1965) financier & economist
“With an evening coat and a white tie, anybody, even a stock broker, can gain a reputation for being civilized.” Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Poet & playwright
“Never invest in anything that eats or needs repainting.” Billy Rose (1899-1966) Composer and entrepreneur
“Gentlemen prefer bonds.” Andrew Mellon, Businessman & financier (1855-1937)
“Anyone who thinks there’s safety in numbers hasn’t looked at the stock market pages” Irene Peter
“The stock market has forecast nine of the last five recessions” Paul A. Samuelson
“If stock market experts were so expert, they would be buying stock, not selling advice.” Norman R. Augustine
“Now is always the most difficult time to invest.” Anonymous
“A stockbroker urged me to buy a stock that would triple its value every year. I told him, ‘At my age, I don’t even buy green bananas.’” Claude Pepper
“If you hear that everybody is buying a certain stock, ask who is selling.” James Dines, Investment newsletter writer (1935- )
“If a little money does not go out, great money will not come in.” Confucius (551BC - 479BC) philosopher
“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) author, printer, inventor, diplomat, scientist
“Don’t gamble; take all your savings and buy some good stock and hold it till it goes up, then sell it. If it don’t go up, don’t buy it.” Will Rogers (1879 - 1935) cowboy, entertainer, humorist
When asked what the stock market will do, J.P Morgan (1837-1913) (banker, financier, businessman) replied:”It will fluctuate.”
“The most valuable things in life are not measured in monetary terms. The really important things are not houses and lands, stocks and bonds, automobiles and real state, but friendships, trust, confidence, empathy, mercy, love and faith.” Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) philosopher & mathematician
“Bulls make money. Bears make money. Pigs get slaughtered.” Anonymous
“Don’t try to buy at the bottom and sell at the top. It can’t be done except by liars.” Bernard Baruch (1870-1965) financier & economist
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Lots of lovely business vocab in there for a high level class, but will need to be adapted to include and reading comprehension task and/ or language point, so here it is as a Word document in order to make that easier: