--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have always served the public to the…" description: "\"I have always served the public to the best of my ability. Why? Because, like every other man, it is to my interest to do so.\" — Cornelius Vanderbilt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/850/cornelius-vanderbilt-33972_ability_i-have-always-served-the-public-to-the-b_814527.jpg" --- # I have always served the public to the best of my ability… ![“I have always served the public to the best of my ability. Why? Because, like every other man, it is to my interest to do so.” quote by Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/850/cornelius-vanderbilt-33972_ability_i-have-always-served-the-public-to-the-b_814527.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/850/cornelius-vanderbilt-33972_ability_i-have-always-served-the-public-to-the-b_814527.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/850/cornelius-vanderbilt-33972_ability_i-have-always-served-the-public-to-the-b_814527.jpg) > “I have always served the public to the best of my ability. Why? Because, like every other man, it is to my interest to do so.” [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Public service is self‑interest; serving others ultimately benefits the servant. **In simple terms:** Helping others also helps yourself. Key Takeaway Serve others to advance your own goals. Themes service self‑interest business ethics philanthropy Mood reflective pragmatic inspirational Type historical ethical When to use this quote - politics - corporate social responsibility - community outreach Key Concepts mutual benefit public good personal gain Questions to Reflect On - What personal gains motivate your public service? - How can you balance altruism with self‑interest? A Different Perspective Self‑interest may be misinterpreted as selfishness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [He who serves the public best, makes the highest profits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/he-who-serves-the-public-best-makes-the-highest-profits/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I owe one thing to my public - the best performance I can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-owe-one-thing-to-my-public-the-best-performance-i-can-give/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [I've always dreamt of being a footballer. You only get one shot at a career like this, and I want to be the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/i-ve-always-dreamt-of-being-a-footballer-you-only-get-one-shot-at-a/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [The only way to deep happiness is to do something you love to the best of your ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/the-only-way-to-deep-happiness-is-to-do-something-you-love-to-the/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [I'm going to do my job to the best of my ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jackson/i-m-going-to-do-my-job-to-the-best-of-my-ability/) [Mark Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-jackson/) > [My motto is to do everything absolutely flat out and to the best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-mcnish/my-motto-is-to-do-everything-absolutely-flat-out-and-to-the-best-of/) [Allan McNish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-mcnish/) > [You have to believe in what you do and go out and try to do it to the best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-plum/you-have-to-believe-in-what-you-do-and-go-out-and-try-to-do-it-to-the/) [Kelsey Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-plum/) > [“That no matter what happens, loving someone to the best of your ability is the right thing to do. It's the only thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-de-los-santos/that-no-matter-what-happens-loving-someone-to-the-best-of-your/) [Marisa de los Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-de-los-santos/) > [I take pride in just knowing how to do things. Whenever a coach tells me to do something, I always try to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/i-take-pride-in-just-knowing-how-to-do-things-whenever-a-coach-tells/) [LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/) > [My job is to help the team win games to the best of my ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-dinwiddie/my-job-is-to-help-the-team-win-games-to-the-best-of-my-ability/) [Spencer Dinwiddie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-dinwiddie/) > [Discover your passion and do it to the best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/discover-your-passion-and-do-it-to-the-best-of-your-ability/) [Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/) > [In the political realm, when I say I'm going to give everything, that means I'll represent the people to the best of my ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane/in-the-political-realm-when-i-say-i-m-going-to-give-everything-that/) [Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane/) > [The most important thing is that you actually care, that you do something to the very best of your ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/the-most-important-thing-is-that-you-actually-care-that-you-do/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [I have no regrets, because I've done everything I could to the best of my ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-have-no-regrets-because-i-ve-done-everything-i-could-to-the-best-of/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) ## More by Cornelius Vanderbilt > [There is no friendship in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/there-is-no-friendship-in-trade/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [I have been insane on the subject of moneymaking all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/i-have-been-insane-on-the-subject-of-moneymaking-all-my-life/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [Never tell anyone what you are going to do till you've done it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/never-tell-anyone-what-you-are-going-to-do-till-you-ve-done-it/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [You have undertaken to cheat me. I won't sue you, for the law is too slow. I'll ruin you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/you-have-undertaken-to-cheat-me-i-won-t-sue-you-for-the-law-is-too/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [I don't care half so much about making money as I do about making my point, and coming out ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/i-don-t-care-half-so-much-about-making-money-as-i-do-about-making-my/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [I am not afraid of my enemies, but by God, you must look out when you get among your friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/i-am-not-afraid-of-my-enemies-but-by-god-you-must-look-out-when-you/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [Law! What do I care about the law? Ain't I got the power?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/law-what-do-i-care-about-the-law-ain-t-i-got-the-power/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [I have been insane on the subject of money-making all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/i-have-been-insane-on-the-subject-of-money-making-all-my-life/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [What do I care about law? Ain't I got the power?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/what-do-i-care-about-law-ain-t-i-got-the-power/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [If I had learned education I would not have had time to learn anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/if-i-had-learned-education-i-would-not-have-had-time-to-learn/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [Never be a minion, always be an owner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/never-be-a-minion-always-be-an-owner/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [Did Cornelius Vanderbilt coin the phrase, to wit:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/did-cornelius-vanderbilt-coin-the-phrase-to-wit/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [It is not according to my mode of doing things, to bring a suit against a man that I have the power in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/it-is-not-according-to-my-mode-of-doing-things-to-bring-a-suit/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) [Explore all 14 Cornelius Vanderbilt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have always served the public to the best of my ability. 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