---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To summarize what I have said: Aim for…"
description: "\"“To summarize what I have said: Aim for the highest; never enter a bar-room; do not touch liquor, or if at all only at meals; never speculate; never in..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/andrew-carnegie-2115_dark-horse_to-summarize-what-i-have-said-aim-for-th_724106.jpg"
---

#  To summarize what I have said: Aim for the highest; never…

![“To summarize what I have said: Aim for the highest; never enter a bar-room; do not touch liquor, or if at all only at meals; never speculate; never indorse beyond your surplus cash fund; make the firm’s interest yours; break orders always to save owners; concentrate; put all your eggs in one…” quote by Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/andrew-carnegie-2115_dark-horse_to-summarize-what-i-have-said-aim-for-th_724106.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/andrew-carnegie-2115_dark-horse_to-summarize-what-i-have-said-aim-for-th_724106.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/andrew-carnegie-2115_dark-horse_to-summarize-what-i-have-said-aim-for-th_724106.jpg)

> ““To summarize what I have said: Aim for the highest; never enter a bar-room; do not touch liquor, or if at all only at meals; never speculate; never indorse beyond your surplus cash fund; make the firm’s interest yours; break orders always to save owners; concentrate; put all your eggs in one basket, and watch that basket; expenditure always within revenue; lastly, be not impatient, for, as Emerson says, “no one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourselves.” I congratulate poor young men upon being born to that ancient and honourable degree which renders it necessary that they should devote themselves to hard work. A basketful of bonds is the heaviest basket a young man ever had to carry. He generally gets to staggering under it. We have in this city creditable instances of such young men, who have pressed to the front rank of our best and most useful citizens. These deserve great credit. But the vast majority of the sons of rich men are unable to resist the temptations to which wealth subjects them, and sink to unworthy lives. I would almost as soon leave a young man a curse, as burden him with the almighty dollar. It is not from this class you have rivalry to fear. The partner’s sons will not trouble you much, but look out that some boys poorer, much poorer than yourselves, whose parents cannot afford to give them the advantages of a course in this institute, advantages which should give you a decided lead in the race–look out that such boys do not challenge you at the post and pass you at the grand stand. Look out for the boy who has to plunge into work direct from the common school and who begins by sweeping out the office. He is the probable dark horse that you had better watch.””

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He advises disciplined financial prudence, hard work, and vigilance against wealth's corrupting influence.

**In simple terms:** Be disciplined, work hard, avoid excess.

Key Takeaway

Practice frugality and focus.

Themes

financial discipline hard work social responsibility

Mood

reflective cautionary

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

- personal finance
- career planning
- entrepreneurship
- philanthropy

Key Concepts

wealth management ethical conduct

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance ambition with integrity?
- What role does wealth play in society?

A Different Perspective

May be overly austere for modern contexts.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dark horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-horse/) [Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emerson/) [Emerson Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emerson-says-5684701/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Rich men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-men/) [Sons Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sons-rich-5684702/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Ultimate success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate-success/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Young man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-man/) [Young men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-men/)

## Related quotes

> [In democratic countries, however opulent a man is supposed to be, he is almost always discontented with his fortune, because he finds that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/in-democratic-countries-however-opulent-a-man-is-supposed-to-be-he-is/)

[Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/)

> [It is not the rich man's son that the young struggler for advancement has to fear in the race for life, nor his nephew,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/it-is-not-the-rich-man-s-son-that-the-young-struggler-for-advancement/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

> [Will Herman Cain become the first black President that I acknowledge? I call him a dark horse because he's an unlikely candidate who surged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/will-herman-cain-become-the-first-black-president-that-i-acknowledge/)

[Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/)

> [ Kate Winslet \[for Steve Jobs movie, 2015\] is the darling. If you wanna be the king you gotta kill the king. I think Charlotte… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bun-b/kate-winslet-for-steve-jobs-movie-2015-is-the-darling-if-you-wanna-be/)

[Bun B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bun-b/)

> [Sailing heart-ships through broken harbors out on the waves of the night, still the searcher must ride the dark horse racing alone in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/sailing-heart-ships-through-broken-harbors-out-on-the-waves-of-the/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [“One day some other Prime will threaten our House, and when that day comes, I’ll kill him.” What? "I’ll do it quiet and clean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/one-day-some-other-prime-will-threaten-our-house-and-when-that-day/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [“He curled his finger under her chin as he rasped, "I'm goin' tae get it right this time, you know." "I believe that, Scot."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/he-curled-his-finger-under-her-chin-as-he-rasped-i-m-goin-tae-get-it/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [“Her carriage bespoke an exquisite misery, a wretchedness so perfect and so absolute that it manifested as dignity, as calm. More than a dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-catton/her-carriage-bespoke-an-exquisite-misery-a-wretchedness-so-perfect/)

[Eleanor Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-catton/)

> [Lincoln and Clinton had a lot in common in the way they were elected: In both cases, they were dark horses. In both cases,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/lincoln-and-clinton-had-a-lot-in-common-in-the-way-they-were-elected/)

[Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/)

> [So you want to play with magic Boy you should know what your falling for Baby do you dare to do this Cause' Im…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/so-you-want-to-play-with-magic-boy-you-should-know-what-your-falling/)

[Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/)

> [I'm interested in the dark horse. It's too scary being the face of something, unless it's really right. A lot of young actors want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-dhawan/i-m-interested-in-the-dark-horse-it-s-too-scary-being-the-face-of/)

[Sacha Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-dhawan/)

> [That and the fact that I knew that nobody was going to publish my work at Dark Horse or DC or anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-walton/that-and-the-fact-that-i-knew-that-nobody-was-going-to-publish-my/)

[Rob Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-walton/)

> [“Ranulf stared blankly into the campfire, trying to ignore Lily. "White horses always look dirty," Lily told the young smitten soldier sitting beside her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-sinclair/ranulf-stared-blankly-into-the-campfire-trying-to-ignore-lily-white/)

[Michele Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-sinclair/)

> [I've been telling everybody that asks, Jan Blachowicz is the dark horse in the division. He's one of the most dangerous dudes and part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-smith/i-ve-been-telling-everybody-that-asks-jan-blachowicz-is-the-dark/)

[Anthony Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-smith/)

> [Way back before the 'Alex Barnaby' series was first published, we were talking with Dark Horse then about making it into a graphic novel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/way-back-before-the-alex-barnaby-series-was-first-published-we-were/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

## More by Andrew Carnegie

> [Immense power is acquired by assuring yourself in your secret reveries that you were born to control affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/immense-power-is-acquired-by-assuring-yourself-in-your-secret/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

> [Strong men don't compromise, it is said, and principles should never be compromised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/strong-men-don-t-compromise-it-is-said-and-principles-should-never-be/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

> [The battle of life is already half won by the young man who is brought in contact with high officials; and the great aim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/the-battle-of-life-is-already-half-won-by-the-young-man-who-is/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

> [Be king in your dreams. Make your vow that you will reach that position, with untarnished reputation, and make no other vow to distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/be-king-in-your-dreams-make-your-vow-that-you-will-reach-that/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

> [“ You cannot push anyone up a ladder unless he is willing to climb a little. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/you-cannot-push-anyone-up-a-ladder-unless-he-is-willing-to-climb-a/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

> [“A man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may take possession of anything else to which he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/a-man-who-acquires-the-ability-to-take-full-possession-of-his-own/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

> [The secret of happiness is renunciation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/the-secret-of-happiness-is-renunciation/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

> [Give me the life of the boy whose mother is nurse, seamstress, washerwoman, cook, teacher, angel, and saint, all in one, and whose father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/give-me-the-life-of-the-boy-whose-mother-is-nurse-seamstress/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

> [Wealth is not to feed our egos but to feed the hungry and to help people help themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/wealth-is-not-to-feed-our-egos-but-to-feed-the-hungry-and-to-help/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

> [You cannot push anyone up the ladder unless he is willing to climb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/you-cannot-push-anyone-up-the-ladder-unless-he-is-willing-to-climb/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

> [The more difficult a problem becomes, the more interesting it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/the-more-difficult-a-problem-becomes-the-more-interesting-it-is/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

> [Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/teamwork-is-the-ability-to-work-together-toward-a-common-vision-the/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

> [The Republic may not give wealth or happiness, she has not promised these. It is the freedom to pursue these, not their realization, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/the-republic-may-not-give-wealth-or-happiness-she-has-not-promised/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

> [The price which society pays for the law of competition, like the price it pays for cheap comforts and luxuries, is great; but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/the-price-which-society-pays-for-the-law-of-competition-like-the/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

> [The problem of our age is the proper administration of wealth, so that the ties of brotherhood may still bind together the rich and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/the-problem-of-our-age-is-the-proper-administration-of-wealth-so-that/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

[Explore all 184 Andrew Carnegie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

## More Dark horse quotes

> [Way back before the 'Alex Barnaby' series was first published, we were talking with Dark Horse then about making it into a graphic novel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/way-back-before-the-alex-barnaby-series-was-first-published-we-were/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [I've been telling everybody that asks, Jan Blachowicz is the dark horse in the division. He's one of the most dangerous dudes and part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-smith/i-ve-been-telling-everybody-that-asks-jan-blachowicz-is-the-dark/)

[Anthony Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-smith/)

> [“Ranulf stared blankly into the campfire, trying to ignore Lily. "White horses always look dirty," Lily told the young smitten soldier sitting beside her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-sinclair/ranulf-stared-blankly-into-the-campfire-trying-to-ignore-lily-white/)

[Michele Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-sinclair/)

> [That and the fact that I knew that nobody was going to publish my work at Dark Horse or DC or anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-walton/that-and-the-fact-that-i-knew-that-nobody-was-going-to-publish-my/)

[Rob Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-walton/)

> [It is not the rich man's son that the young struggler for advancement has to fear in the race for life, nor his nephew,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/it-is-not-the-rich-man-s-son-that-the-young-struggler-for-advancement/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

> [I'm interested in the dark horse. It's too scary being the face of something, unless it's really right. A lot of young actors want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-dhawan/i-m-interested-in-the-dark-horse-it-s-too-scary-being-the-face-of/)

[Sacha Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-dhawan/)

> [So you want to play with magic Boy you should know what your falling for Baby do you dare to do this Cause' Im…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/so-you-want-to-play-with-magic-boy-you-should-know-what-your-falling/)

[Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/)

> [Lincoln and Clinton had a lot in common in the way they were elected: In both cases, they were dark horses. In both cases,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/lincoln-and-clinton-had-a-lot-in-common-in-the-way-they-were-elected/)

[Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/)

> [“Her carriage bespoke an exquisite misery, a wretchedness so perfect and so absolute that it manifested as dignity, as calm. More than a dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-catton/her-carriage-bespoke-an-exquisite-misery-a-wretchedness-so-perfect/)

[Eleanor Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-catton/)

> [“He curled his finger under her chin as he rasped, "I'm goin' tae get it right this time, you know." "I believe that, Scot."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/he-curled-his-finger-under-her-chin-as-he-rasped-i-m-goin-tae-get-it/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [“One day some other Prime will threaten our House, and when that day comes, I’ll kill him.” What? "I’ll do it quiet and clean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/one-day-some-other-prime-will-threaten-our-house-and-when-that-day/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [Sailing heart-ships through broken harbors out on the waves of the night, still the searcher must ride the dark horse racing alone in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/sailing-heart-ships-through-broken-harbors-out-on-the-waves-of-the/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [ Kate Winslet \[for Steve Jobs movie, 2015\] is the darling. If you wanna be the king you gotta kill the king. I think Charlotte… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bun-b/kate-winslet-for-steve-jobs-movie-2015-is-the-darling-if-you-wanna-be/)

[Bun B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bun-b/)

> [Will Herman Cain become the first black President that I acknowledge? I call him a dark horse because he's an unlikely candidate who surged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/will-herman-cain-become-the-first-black-president-that-i-acknowledge/)

[Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/)

> [The first favourite was never heard of, the second favourite was never seen after the distance post, all the ten-to-oners were in the rear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-first-favourite-was-never-heard-of-the-second-favourite-was-never/)

[Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/)

[Browse all 41 Dark horse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-horse/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“To summarize what I have said: Aim for the highest; never enter a bar-room; do not touch liquor, or if at all only at meals; never speculate; never indorse beyond your surplus cash fund; make the firm’s interest yours; break orders always to save owners; concentrate; put all your eggs in one basket, and watch that basket; expenditure always within revenue; lastly, be not impatient, for, as Emerson says, “no one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourselves.” I congratulate poor young men upon being born to that ancient and honourable degree which renders it necessary that they should devote themselves to hard work. A basketful of bonds is the heaviest basket a young man ever had to carry. He generally gets to staggering under it. We have in this city creditable instances of such young men, who have pressed to the front rank of our best and most useful citizens. These deserve great credit. But the vast majority of the sons of rich men are unable to resist the temptations to which wealth subjects them, and sink to unworthy lives. I would almost as soon leave a young man a curse, as burden him with the almighty dollar. It is not from this class you have rivalry to fear. The partner’s sons will not trouble you much, but look out that some boys poorer, much poorer than yourselves, whose parents cannot afford to give them the advantages of a course in this institute, advantages which should give you a decided lead in the race–look out that such boys do not challenge you at the post and pass you at the grand stand. Look out for the boy who has to plunge into work direct from the common school and who begins by sweeping out the office. He is the probable dark horse that you had better watch.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Andrew Carnegie"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/to-summarize-what-i-have-said-aim-for-the-highest-never-enter-a-bar/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dark horse"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/to-summarize-what-i-have-said-aim-for-the-highest-never-enter-a-bar/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/andrew-carnegie-2115_dark-horse_to-summarize-what-i-have-said-aim-for-th_724106.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/andrew-carnegie-2115_dark-horse_to-summarize-what-i-have-said-aim-for-th_724106.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/andrew-carnegie-2115_dark-horse_to-summarize-what-i-have-said-aim-for-th_724106.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“To summarize what I have said: Aim for the highest; never enter a bar-room; do not touch liquor, or if at…” — Andrew Carnegie",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Andrew Carnegie",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“To summarize what I have said:...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/to-summarize-what-i-have-said-aim-for-the-highest-never-enter-a-bar/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/to-summarize-what-i-have-said-aim-for-the-highest-never-enter-a-bar/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
