--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a general rule never take your whole…" description: "\"As a general rule never take your whole fee in advance, nor any more than a small retainer. When fully paid beforehand, you are more than a common mort..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/abraham-lincoln-88_cases_as-a-general-rule-never-take-your-whole_2701290.jpg" --- # As a general rule never take your whole fee in advance… ![“As a general rule never take your whole fee in advance, nor any more than a small retainer. When fully paid beforehand, you are more than a common mortal if you can feel the same interest in the case, as if something was still in prospect for you, as well as for your client.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/abraham-lincoln-88_cases_as-a-general-rule-never-take-your-whole_2701290.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/abraham-lincoln-88_cases_as-a-general-rule-never-take-your-whole_2701290.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/abraham-lincoln-88_cases_as-a-general-rule-never-take-your-whole_2701290.jpg) > “As a general rule never take your whole fee in advance, nor any more than a small retainer. When fully paid beforehand, you are more than a common mortal if you can feel the same interest in the case, as if something was still in prospect for you, as well as for your client.” [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Charging full fees upfront can diminish genuine interest; modest retainers keep motivation and fairness. **In simple terms:** Full fees reduce genuine interest. Key Takeaway Use modest retainers to stay engaged. Themes ethics business motivation Mood practical ethical Type business advice When to use this quote - freelance work - consulting - legal services Key Concepts contract law client relations Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance fair pay and motivation? - What safeguards protect both parties? A Different Perspective Clients may still feel exploited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) [Retainers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retainers/) ## Related quotes > [Everybody, every tradesman that worked for Shafin or built my house got fully paid, well paid. Everybody got paid. I would like that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/everybody-every-tradesman-that-worked-for-shafin-or-built-my-house/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [To properly fund the NHS, we must ALL chip in. As a fully paid U.K. tax resident since 1985, I'd be proud to contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-hucknall/to-properly-fund-the-nhs-we-must-all-chip-in-as-a-fully-paid-u-k-tax/) [Mick Hucknall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-hucknall/) > [Not only has the debt (of our sins) been fully paid, there is no possibility of ever going into debt again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/not-only-has-the-debt-of-our-sins-been-fully-paid-there-is-no/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [I'm a fully paid-up member of the human race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kennedy/i-m-a-fully-paid-up-member-of-the-human-race/) [Charles Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kennedy/) > [Southerners love a good tale. They are born reciters, great memory retainers, diary keepers, letter exchangers . . . great talkers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eudora-welty/southerners-love-a-good-tale-they-are-born-reciters-great-memory/) [Eudora Welty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eudora-welty/) > [When I think about what sort of person I would most like to have on a retainer, I think it would be a boss.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/when-i-think-about-what-sort-of-person-i-would-most-like-to-have-on-a/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Temptations are enemies outside the castle seeking entrance. If there be no false retainer within who holds treacherous parley, there can scarcely be even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/temptations-are-enemies-outside-the-castle-seeking-entrance-if-there/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [In my opinion butlers ought To know their place, and not to play The Old Retainer night and day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joachim-du-bellay/in-my-opinion-butlers-ought-to-know-their-place-and-not-to-play-the/) [Joachim du Bellay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joachim-du-bellay/) > [Genius is not a retainer to any emperor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/genius-is-not-a-retainer-to-any-emperor/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [First, I charge a retainer; then I charge a reminder; next I charge a refresher; and then I charge a finisher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judah-p-benjamin/first-i-charge-a-retainer-then-i-charge-a-reminder-next-i-charge-a/) Judah P. Benjamin > [The press exerts the pressure of dissent on officials otherwise inclined to rest content with the congratulations of their retainers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/the-press-exerts-the-pressure-of-dissent-on-officials-otherwise/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [I had braces; I was lucky, 'cause I had some snaggle teeth. I always try and keep my retainer on me 'cause I'm paranoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kreayshawn/i-had-braces-i-was-lucky-cause-i-had-some-snaggle-teeth-i-always-try/) [Kreayshawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kreayshawn/) > [Go to bed before 8 p.m. Thieves generally break in between 12 and 2 a.m., so if you spend the evening in useless talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hojo-soun/go-to-bed-before-8-p-m-thieves-generally-break-in-between-12-and-2-a/) Hojo Soun > [I have a couple of gold teeth. I had braces for a year but I didn't wear the retainer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/i-have-a-couple-of-gold-teeth-i-had-braces-for-a-year-but-i-didn-t/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [I have always had an attorney on retainer, and now I believe I will have to put him to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-gannon/i-have-always-had-an-attorney-on-retainer-and-now-i-believe-i-will/) [Jeff Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-gannon/) ## More by Abraham Lincoln > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [As we keep or break the Sabbath Day we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope by which man rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-we-keep-or-break-the-sabbath-day-we-nobly-save-or-meanly-lose-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Tell the truth and you won't have so much to remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tell-the-truth-and-you-won-t-have-so-much-to-remember/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/with-high-hope-for-the-future-no-prediction-is-ventured/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I am glad to see that a system of labor prevails under which laborers can strike when they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-glad-to-see-that-a-system-of-labor-prevails-under-which-laborers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More Cases quotes > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. 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That is to say, they could read their e-mails. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wilkerson/the-cheney-team-had-for-example-technological-supremacy-over-the/) [Lawrence Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wilkerson/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) Browse all 6,420 Cases quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a general rule never take your whole fee in advance, nor any more than a small retainer. 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