Top 50 George Ade Quotes (2025 Update)

1. “The higher they fly the harder they fall.”

— George Ade

2. “A rolling stone gathers no moss and therefore will not be derided as a moss-back. Roll as much as possible.”

— George Ade

3. “Give the people what they think they want.”

— George Ade

4. “Scatter seeds of kindness.”

— George Ade

5. “Opportunity knocks once at every man’s door and then keeps on knocking.”

— George Ade

6. “Every man is the architect of his own fortunes, but the neighbors superintend the construction.”

— George Ade

7. “Life is a series of relapses and recoveries.”

— George Ade

8. “A bird in the hand may be worth two in the bush, but remember also that a bird in the hand is a positive embarrassment to one not in the poultry business.”

— George Ade

9. “As the twig is bent the tree is inclined.”

— George Ade

10. “The serpent is helpless unless he finds an apple to work with.”

— George Ade

11. “Early to bed and early to rise, and you’ll meet very few of the best people.”

— George Ade

12. “In uplifting, get underneath.”

— George Ade

13. “The wealthy have nothing left except money.”

— George Ade

14. “Only the more rugged mortals should attempt to keep up with current literature.”

— George Ade

15. “Those who have tried meekness know the importance of being important.”

— George Ade

16. “It isn’t how long you stick around but what you put over while you are here.”

— George Ade

17. “Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home for wearing what you like.”

— George Ade

18. “The music teacher came twice a week to bridge the awful gap between Dorothy and Chopin.”

— George Ade

19. “A lot of smart young people have come out of Indiana. The smarter they are, the faster they come out.”

— George Ade

20. “In scattering seeds of kindness, do it by hand and not by machine.”

— George Ade

21. “Familiarity breeds contentment.”

— George Ade

22. “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but would not cost half as much during the winter months.”

— George Ade

23. “A friend who is near and dear may in time become as useless as a relative.”

— George Ade

24. “One man’s poison ivy is another man’s spinach.”

— George Ade

25. “Early to bed and early to rise is a bad rule for anyone who wishes to become acquainted with our most prominent and influential people.”

— George Ade

26. “Never pretend to have money except when you are in straits. The poor man who pretends to have a bank account betters his credit and takes no risk. But the prosperous individual who counts his money in the street, forthwith will be invited to attend a charity bazaar.”

— George Ade

27. “For parlor use, the vague generality is a life saver.”

— George Ade

28. “Whom are you?” he asked, for he had attended business college.”

— George Ade

29. “Too many trained nurses discommode Cupid.”

— George Ade

30. “After being turned down by numerous publishers, he decided to write for posterity.”

— George Ade

31. “One smell of brimstone makes the whole world kin.”

— George Ade

32. “If you have to be burned at the stake, be a good fellow and collect your own fire-wood.”

— George Ade

33. “A good jolly is worth what you pay for it.”

— George Ade

34. “She was short on intellect, but long on shape.”

— George Ade

35. “Always interline a contract before signing it, merely to impress the Party of the First Part. The one who puts his signature to Articles of Agreement drawn up by the other fellow is establishing a dangerous precedent.”

— George Ade

Featured in: Firsts Quotes

36. “Do not give alms promiscuously. Select the unworthy poor and make them happy. To give to the deserving is a duty, but to help the improvident, drinking class is clear generosity, so that the donor has a right to be warmed by a selfish pride and count on a most flattering obituary.”

— George Ade

37. “A man never feels more important than when he receives a telegram containing more than ten words.”

— George Ade

38. “Moral: It all depends.”

— George Ade

39. “If a man does not go about his work with enthusiasm, it means that he has not yet found a work that he likes. Every mortal is a busy bee when he comes to the task that Destiny has set aside for him.”

— George Ade

40. “Do unto yourself as your neighbors do unto themselves and look pleasant.”

— George Ade

41. “Adversity often hatches out the true nobility of character.”

— George Ade

42. “Moral: Don’t try to Account for Anything.”

— George Ade

43. “The shorter the hours, the larger the income. Don’t get into the habit of putting in long hours or you may be set down into a permanent subordinate position.”

— George Ade

44. “Where ignorance is not bliss, get wise!”

— George Ade

45. “Those who are entitled to it get it sooner or later.”

— George Ade

46. “One cannot rest except after steady practice.”

— George Ade

47. “I am thoroughly tired of the fable style of narrative and shall do my best to get up something entirely different and possibly little more worthy.”

— George Ade

48. “In the city a funeral is just an interruption of traffic; in the country it is a form of entertainment.”

— George Ade

Featured in: Country Quotes

49. “The only city people are those born so.”

— George Ade

50. “When Wealth walks in at the Door, the Press Agent comes in through the Window.”

— George Ade