--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ability to deal with people is as…" description: "\"“The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee. And I will pay more for that ability.”\" — John D. Rockefeller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fc/john-d-rockefeller-3693_quote_the-ability-to-deal-with-people-is-as-pu_1407607.jpg" --- # The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a… ![“The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee. And I will pay more for that ability.” quote by John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fc/john-d-rockefeller-3693_quote_the-ability-to-deal-with-people-is-as-pu_1407607.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fc/john-d-rockefeller-3693_quote_the-ability-to-deal-with-people-is-as-pu_1407607.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fc/john-d-rockefeller-3693_quote_the-ability-to-deal-with-people-is-as-pu_1407607.jpg) > ““The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee. And I will pay more for that ability.”” [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Interpersonal skills are valuable commodities, arguably more essential than material goods, and worth investing in heavily. **In simple terms:** People skills are valuable and costly. Key Takeaway Invest in social competence. Themes business skill development value Mood pragmatic strategic Type advice reflection When to use this quote - career advancement - team building - leadership training Key Concepts social intelligence human capital investment Questions to Reflect On - How can you measure your people skills? - What investments improve interpersonal ability? A Different Perspective Skills can be hard to quantify. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee and I will pay more for that ability than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/the-ability-to-deal-with-people-is-as-purchasable-a-commodity-as-3/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [“the ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee. And I will pay more for that ability,” said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/the-ability-to-deal-with-people-is-as-purchasable-a-commodity-as/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [“It is shocking, but true, that in today's America, "Justice" is a purchasable commodity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-b-davidson/it-is-shocking-but-true-that-in-today-s-america-justice-is-a/) Phillip B. Davidson > [though pleasure may be purchasable, happiness cannot be bought for a price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/though-pleasure-may-be-purchasable-happiness-cannot-be-bought-for-a/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [Public health is purchasable. Within a few natural and important limitations any community can determine its own health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-biggs/public-health-is-purchasable-within-a-few-natural-and-important/) Hermann Biggs > [“Flexibility enables the ability to deal with what happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/flexibility-enables-the-ability-to-deal-with-what-happens/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [Happiness is not the end of problems but the ability to deal with them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/happiness-is-not-the-end-of-problems-but-the-ability-to-deal-with-them/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Happiness is not the absence of problems, it's the ability to deal with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/happiness-is-not-the-absence-of-problems-it-s-the-ability-to-deal/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [Happiness is not the absence of problems but the ability to deal with them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-is-not-the-absence-of-problems-but-the-ability-to-deal-with-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never underestimate your problem or your ability to deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-schuller/never-underestimate-your-problem-or-your-ability-to-deal-with-it/) [Robert H. Schuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-schuller/) > [Happiness is not the absence of problems; its the ability to deal with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/happiness-is-not-the-absence-of-problems-its-the-ability-to-deal-with/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [The key to dealing with people in general is that they have to know that you care about them. You have to deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-berkman/the-key-to-dealing-with-people-in-general-is-that-they-have-to-know/) [Lance Berkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-berkman/) > [I can deal with people who watch me on stage but I am not good in communicating with people any other way than through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-can-deal-with-people-who-watch-me-on-stage-but-i-am-not-good-in/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [“One may learn a great deal about a people by the stories they tell of others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-zahn/one-may-learn-a-great-deal-about-a-people-by-the-stories-they-tell-of/) [Timothy Zahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-zahn/) > [Life's too short to deal with other people's insecurities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/life-s-too-short-to-deal-with-other-people-s-insecurities/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) ## More by John D. Rockefeller > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [I would rather hire a man with enthusiasm, than a man who knows everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/i-would-rather-hire-a-man-with-enthusiasm-than-a-man-who-knows/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [“The secret to success is to do the common things uncommonly well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/the-secret-to-success-is-to-do-the-common-things-uncommonly-well/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [After it is all over, the religion of man is his most important possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/after-it-is-all-over-the-religion-of-man-is-his-most-important/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [There is no feeling in this world to be compared with self-reliance--do not sacrifice that to anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/there-is-no-feeling-in-this-world-to-be-compared-with-self-reliance/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [The American Beauty Rose can be produced in the splendor and fragrance which bring cheer to its beholder only by sacrificing the early buds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/the-american-beauty-rose-can-be-produced-in-the-splendor-and/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [To think! All that power and he wasn't even rich!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/to-think-all-that-power-and-he-wasn-t-even-rich/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [The only question with wealth is, what do you do with it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/the-only-question-with-wealth-is-what-do-you-do-with-it/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [I know of nothing more despicable and pathetic than a man who devotes all the hours of the waking day to the making of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/i-know-of-nothing-more-despicable-and-pathetic-than-a-man-who-devotes/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [I always tried to turn every disaster into an opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/i-always-tried-to-turn-every-disaster-into-an-opportunity/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [There is nothing in this world that can compare with the Christian fellowship; nothing that can satisfy but Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/there-is-nothing-in-this-world-that-can-compare-with-the-christian/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [“I believe in the supreme worth of the individual and in his right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/i-believe-in-the-supreme-worth-of-the-individual-and-in-his-right-to/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/i-do-not-think-there-is-any-other-quality-so-essential-to-success-of/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [The major fortunes in America have been made in land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/the-major-fortunes-in-america-have-been-made-in-land/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) [Explore all 123 John D. Rockefeller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) ## More Deal People quotes > [Life's too short to deal with other people's insecurities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/life-s-too-short-to-deal-with-other-people-s-insecurities/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [“the ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee. And I will pay more for that ability,” said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/the-ability-to-deal-with-people-is-as-purchasable-a-commodity-as/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [“One may learn a great deal about a people by the stories they tell of others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-zahn/one-may-learn-a-great-deal-about-a-people-by-the-stories-they-tell-of/) [Timothy Zahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-zahn/) > [I can deal with people who watch me on stage but I am not good in communicating with people any other way than through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-can-deal-with-people-who-watch-me-on-stage-but-i-am-not-good-in/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [The key to dealing with people in general is that they have to know that you care about them. You have to deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-berkman/the-key-to-dealing-with-people-in-general-is-that-they-have-to-know/) [Lance Berkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-berkman/) > [I try not to be preachy, I just try to deal with people on their own level, not to try to talk down or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chali-2na/i-try-not-to-be-preachy-i-just-try-to-deal-with-people-on-their-own/) [Chali 2na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chali-2na/) > [I've got a nice little crafty deal with the people in Barbados; 10 days out there teaching the locals how to play darts for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bristow/i-ve-got-a-nice-little-crafty-deal-with-the-people-in-barbados-10/) [Eric Bristow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bristow/) > [My race and sex had a great deal more to do with what people believed I could do than with what I actually could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-e-butler/my-race-and-sex-had-a-great-deal-more-to-do-with-what-people-believed/) [Octavia E. Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-e-butler/) > [Everybody's fake, you just gotta know how to deal with people!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabreya-hill/everybody-s-fake-you-just-gotta-know-how-to-deal-with-people/) JaBreya Hill > [Any supervisor worth his salt would rather deal with people who attempt too much than with those who try too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/any-supervisor-worth-his-salt-would-rather-deal-with-people-who/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [I've had offers to sign a record deal, but the people I've talked to have wanted to package me and have me meet with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-haas/i-ve-had-offers-to-sign-a-record-deal-but-the-people-i-ve-talked-to/) [Lukas Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-haas/) > [You handle animals. You deal with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/you-handle-animals-you-deal-with-people/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [I can deal with imperfection, but I can't deal with people who lie to themselves and lie to the world to make the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bibi-bourelly/i-can-deal-with-imperfection-but-i-can-t-deal-with-people-who-lie-to/) [Bibi Bourelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bibi-bourelly/) > [In art as in politics we must deal with people as they are not as we wish them to be. Only by working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/in-art-as-in-politics-we-must-deal-with-people-as-they-are-not-as-we/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [“was hard to deal with people when a tiny part of you saw them as a temporary collection of atoms that would not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/was-hard-to-deal-with-people-when-a-tiny-part-of-you-saw-them-as-a/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) Browse all 49 Deal People quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee. And I will pay more for that ability.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John D. 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