--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the old days all you needed was a…" description: "\"In the old days all you needed was a handshake. Nowadays you need forty lawyers.\" — Jimmy Hoffa" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/jimmy-hoffa-20485_forty_in-the-old-days-all-you-needed-was-a-han_1422598.png" --- # In the old days all you needed was a handshake. Nowadays… ![“In the old days all you needed was a handshake. Nowadays you need forty lawyers.” quote by Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/jimmy-hoffa-20485_forty_in-the-old-days-all-you-needed-was-a-han_1422598.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/jimmy-hoffa-20485_forty_in-the-old-days-all-you-needed-was-a-han_1422598.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/jimmy-hoffa-20485_forty_in-the-old-days-all-you-needed-was-a-han_1422598.png) > “In the old days all you needed was a handshake. Nowadays you need forty lawyers.” [Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Business interactions have become legally complex, moving from simple trust to formal contracts. **In simple terms:** Trust replaced by legal safeguards. Key Takeaway Recognize the need for legal counsel in modern deals. Themes trust legal complexity business Mood skeptical pragmatic Type observational cautionary When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - real estate transactions - employment agreements - technology licensing Key Concepts contract law social change economics Questions to Reflect On - Do you trust enough to simplify agreements? - When is a handshake still effective? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on lawyers can hinder personal connections. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forty/) [Handshake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handshake/) [Handshake Nowadays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handshake-nowadays-5042376/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyers/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Need Lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-lawyers-1208296/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Needed Handshake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed-handshake-5042375/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Old days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-days/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [Every year law schools churn out thousands of lawyers. We don't need any more lawyers. We need more lawyers like we need more talk-show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/every-year-law-schools-churn-out-thousands-of-lawyers-we-don-t-need/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [If you want to amplify the data that you have, you need media, you need lawyers, you need the judiciary. Especially when governments try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/if-you-want-to-amplify-the-data-that-you-have-you-need-media-you-need/) [Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/) > [You don't need lawyers making laws. Regular citizens can make laws. Let the lawyers work under the laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/you-don-t-need-lawyers-making-laws-regular-citizens-can-make-laws-let/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [The ethical practices of lawyers are probably no worse than those of other professions. Lawyers bring some of the trouble on by claiming in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-friedman/the-ethical-practices-of-lawyers-are-probably-no-worse-than-those-of/) [Lawrence M. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-friedman/) > [“Because some kids need lawyers, though most of them don’t know it. And most lawyers are too busy making money to worry about kids.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gri/because-some-kids-need-lawyers-though-most-of-them-don-t-know-it-and/) [John Gri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gri/) > [When I look at 55 percent of our black men dropping out of school, how bad off are we going to be when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/when-i-look-at-55-percent-of-our-black-men-dropping-out-of-school-how/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [Sometimes even lawyers need lawyers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-carter/sometimes-even-lawyers-need-lawyers/) [Billy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-carter/) > [Think about all of the non-entrepreneurial advice and resources you need when building a company. You need lawyers, accountants, financial experts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hyman/think-about-all-of-the-non-entrepreneurial-advice-and-resources-you/) [Jennifer Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hyman/) > [It is common sense that in our immigration courts, where children fleeing devastating violence abroad often find themselves, kids need lawyers to advocate on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/it-is-common-sense-that-in-our-immigration-courts-where-children/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [“A person who offers a loose handshake, on the other hand (pun intended), may be interpreted as being uninterested, lacking confidence and self-esteem, weak,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/a-person-who-offers-a-loose-handshake-on-the-other-hand-pun-intended/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Suzanne Collins, it was such a big thing for me to make the handshake with her and to say, 'You can trust me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/suzanne-collins-it-was-such-a-big-thing-for-me-to-make-the-handshake/) [Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/) > [Blay didn’t shake the hand that was offered. He reached over, took a hold of the fighter’s face, and drew Qhuinn in for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/blay-didn-t-shake-the-hand-that-was-offered-he-reached-over-took-a/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“With warm pleasantries, strangers become clients. With firm handshakes, contracts become signed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utibe-samuel-mbom/with-warm-pleasantries-strangers-become-clients-with-firm-handshakes/) [Utibe Samuel Mbom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utibe-samuel-mbom/) > [I ain't the captain of the yacht, but I'm on the boat; I ain't acting what I'm not, knowing that I don't. You niggaz…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beanie-sigel/i-ain-t-the-captain-of-the-yacht-but-i-m-on-the-boat-i-ain-t-acting/) [Beanie Sigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beanie-sigel/) > [I never learned the secret handshake. That may be one of the reasons I've grown to love English soccer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/i-never-learned-the-secret-handshake-that-may-be-one-of-the-reasons-i/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) ## More by Jimmy Hoffa > [I've told you before and I'll tell you again. The strong survive and the weak disappear. We do not intend to disappear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-hoffa/i-ve-told-you-before-and-i-ll-tell-you-again-the-strong-survive-and/) [Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) > [There are simply no public figures today who so challenge the elite business and government establishment and so champion the working class as Jimmy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-hoffa/there-are-simply-no-public-figures-today-who-so-challenge-the-elite/) [Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) > [I don't need bodyguards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-hoffa/i-don-t-need-bodyguards/) [Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) > [We never had any silk sheets in our family...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-hoffa/we-never-had-any-silk-sheets-in-our-family/) [Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) > [Don't let any man into your cab, your home, or your heart, unless he's a friend of labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-hoffa/don-t-let-any-man-into-your-cab-your-home-or-your-heart-unless-he-s-a/) [Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) > [He's not just the most powerful man in labor," Robert Kennedy had said in the wake of Hoffa's announcement; "he's the most powerful man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-hoffa/he-s-not-just-the-most-powerful-man-in-labor-robert-kennedy-had-said/) [Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) > [Rome wasn't built in a day, but man, did they get a break on the labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-hoffa/rome-wasn-t-built-in-a-day-but-man-did-they-get-a-break-on-the-labor/) [Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) > [They all know I'm back, very much back, and that I will be the general president again come hell or high water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-hoffa/they-all-know-i-m-back-very-much-back-and-that-i-will-be-the-general/) [Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) > [You almost had to live through it to really know the gut ripping misery of the depression during the early thirties which led to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-hoffa/you-almost-had-to-live-through-it-to-really-know-the-gut-ripping/) [Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) > [Mob guys had muscle, and where in hell do you think employers got the tough guys when they wanted to break a strike?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-hoffa/mob-guys-had-muscle-and-where-in-hell-do-you-think-employers-got-the/) [Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) > [Sure, we loaned money to build hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. So what? Las Vegas borrowers were good customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-hoffa/sure-we-loaned-money-to-build-hotels-and-casinos-in-las-vegas-so-what/) [Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) > [When you go to prison they forget it's your Constitution, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-hoffa/when-you-go-to-prison-they-forget-it-s-your-constitution-too/) [Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) > [But to hear Kennedy when he was grandstanding in front of the McClellan Committee you might have thought I was making as much out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-hoffa/but-to-hear-kennedy-when-he-was-grandstanding-in-front-of-the/) [Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) > [When you run an organization like the Teamsters one man has to be the boss and run things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-hoffa/when-you-run-an-organization-like-the-teamsters-one-man-has-to-be-the/) [Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) > [I can tell you this on a stack of Bibles: prisons are archaic, brutal, unregenerative, overcrowded hell holes where the inmates are treated like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-hoffa/i-can-tell-you-this-on-a-stack-of-bibles-prisons-are-archaic-brutal/) [Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) [Explore all 30 Jimmy Hoffa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) ## More Forty quotes > [The Beat Generation, that was a vision that we had, John Clellon Holmes and I, and Allen Ginsberg in an even wilder way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-beat-generation-that-was-a-vision-that-we-had-john-clellon-holmes/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Whether one is twenty, forty, or sixty; whether one has succeeded, failed or just muddled along; whether yesterday was full of sun or storm,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-mitchell-hodges/whether-one-is-twenty-forty-or-sixty-whether-one-has-succeeded-failed/) [Leigh Mitchell Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-mitchell-hodges/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/) [Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/) > [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. Touching to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/it-wasn-t-really-touching-to-be-young-it-was-touching-not-to-be-young/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [This ball was so crowded that it took me - a trained professional journalist with vast experience in this area - forty five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-ball-was-so-crowded-that-it-took-me-a-trained-professional/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [I may be forty, but every morning when I get up, I feel like a twenty-year-old. Unfortunately, there's never one around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/i-may-be-forty-but-every-morning-when-i-get-up-i-feel-like-a-twenty/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [Being an actor is easy, just picture someone in a room and you outside waiting for your cue to go in. Elliot Gould's been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/being-an-actor-is-easy-just-picture-someone-in-a-room-and-you-outside/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) > [Be wise with speed; a fool at forty is a fool indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/be-wise-with-speed-a-fool-at-forty-is-a-fool-indeed/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [As it can be maintained that all the great advances have come from men under forty, so the history of the world shows that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/as-it-can-be-maintained-that-all-the-great-advances-have-come-from/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [I am supremely humbled to receive the 40 Under Forty honor by Stony Brook University in the category of Civil Service and Activism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momina-mustehsan/i-am-supremely-humbled-to-receive-the-40-under-forty-honor-by-stony/) [Momina Mustehsan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momina-mustehsan/) > [In my forties, my optimism was boundless. I had really good health and tremendous success which allowed me to do anything I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-cornwell/in-my-forties-my-optimism-was-boundless-i-had-really-good-health-and/) [Patricia Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-cornwell/) > [Rincewind could scream for mercy in nineteen languages, and just scream in another forty-four.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/rincewind-could-scream-for-mercy-in-nineteen-languages-and-just/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [ I know that some of the folks in the press are uptight about this \[moving the press corps out of the West Wing \],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reince-priebus/i-know-that-some-of-the-folks-in-the-press-are-uptight-about-this/) [Reince Priebus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reince-priebus/) > [It's crazy for somebody who's kind of empowered and wealthy like myself to say, "Oh, I don't need to be patronized by the state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/it-s-crazy-for-somebody-who-s-kind-of-empowered-and-wealthy-like/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [I was given the gifts of the artist, and the trouble that goes with them: So I have that blessing, and there was never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-berliawsky-nevelson/i-was-given-the-gifts-of-the-artist-and-the-trouble-that-goes-with/) [Louise Berliawsky Nevelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-berliawsky-nevelson/) [Browse all 1,077 Forty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the old days all you needed was a handshake. 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