--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Money is in some respects like fire; it…" description: "\"Money is in some respects like fire; it is a very excellent servant but a terrible master.\" — P. T. Barnum" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/p-t-barnum-7389_excellent_money-is-in-some-respects-like-fire-it-i_779031.png" --- # Money is in some respects like fire; it is a very… ![“Money is in some respects like fire; it is a very excellent servant but a terrible master.” quote by P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/p-t-barnum-7389_excellent_money-is-in-some-respects-like-fire-it-i_779031.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/p-t-barnum-7389_excellent_money-is-in-some-respects-like-fire-it-i_779031.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/p-t-barnum-7389_excellent_money-is-in-some-respects-like-fire-it-i_779031.png) > “Money is in some respects like fire; it is a very excellent servant but a terrible master.” [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Money can empower or dominate depending on how we treat it, like fire serving or burning. **In simple terms:** Money can help or harm. Key Takeaway Use money wisely, don't let it control you. Themes wealth control responsibility Mood cautious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - budgeting - investment - personal finance - leadership Key Concepts economics psychology metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep money as a tool? - What habits prevent money from ruling you? A Different Perspective Even a good servant can become a tyrant if misused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent/) [Excellent Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent-servant-989400/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Money Respects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money-respects-989401/) [Owners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owners/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-life/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) [Servant Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant-terrible-242004/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Terrible Master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-master-242003/) ## Related quotes > [Money is in some respects life's fire: it is a very excellent servant, but a terrible master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/money-is-in-some-respects-life-s-fire-it-is-a-very-excellent-servant/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [The press, like fire, is an excellent servant, but a terrible master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/the-press-like-fire-is-an-excellent-servant-but-a-terrible-master/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [Money is an excellent servant but a terrible master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-williams/money-is-an-excellent-servant-but-a-terrible-master/) [Craig Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-williams/) > [Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pt-barnum/money-is-a-terrible-master-but-an-excellent-servant/) [PT Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pt-barnum/) > [Remember, technology is a great servant, but a terrible master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/remember-technology-is-a-great-servant-but-a-terrible-master/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [“Think of the old cliché about the mind being 'an excellent servant but a terrible master'. This, like many clichés, so lame & banal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/think-of-the-old-clich-about-the-mind-being-an-excellent-servant-but-3/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [The mind is a wonderfull servant, but a terrible master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/the-mind-is-a-wonderfull-servant-but-a-terrible-master/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [The mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/the-mind-is-a-wonderful-servant-but-a-terrible-master/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [Discipline for me is about respect. It's not even about self-respect; it's about respect for life and all it offers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/discipline-for-me-is-about-respect-it-s-not-even-about-self-respect/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Whoever does not respect life, does not deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/whoever-does-not-respect-life-does-not-deserve-it/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [For you deal here above all with human life, and human life is sacred; no one may dare make an attempt upon it. Respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/for-you-deal-here-above-all-with-human-life-and-human-life-is-sacred/) [Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/) > [There is no way that anyone could experience a war and witness all the horror that it brings without gaining a greater respect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-deprince/there-is-no-way-that-anyone-could-experience-a-war-and-witness-all/) [Michaela DePrince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-deprince/) > [We must remember how to honor and respect life with each breath, step, word, and thought. What you bless blesses you in return. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-ingerman/we-must-remember-how-to-honor-and-respect-life-with-each-breath-step/) [Sandra Ingerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-ingerman/) > [Nothing living should ever be treated with contempt. Whatever it is that lives, a man, a tree, or a bird, should be touched gently,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/nothing-living-should-ever-be-treated-with-contempt-whatever-it-is/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [Being there for someone sometimes is hard to get to but just gotta make it work out and just love care respect life living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimitri-mcbyron/being-there-for-someone-sometimes-is-hard-to-get-to-but-just-gotta/) [Dimitri McByron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimitri-mcbyron/) ## More by P. T. Barnum > [You can fool most of the people most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/you-can-fool-most-of-the-people-most-of-the-time/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [There is scarcely anything that drags a person down like debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/there-is-scarcely-anything-that-drags-a-person-down-like-debt/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [Without publicity a terrible thing happens: nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/without-publicity-a-terrible-thing-happens-nothing/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [Politics and government are certainly among the most important of practical human interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/politics-and-government-are-certainly-among-the-most-important-of/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [Money is good for nothing unless you know the value of it by experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/money-is-good-for-nothing-unless-you-know-the-value-of-it-by/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [A lovely nook of forest scenery, or a grand rock, like a beautiful woman, depends for much of its attractiveness upon the attendance sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/a-lovely-nook-of-forest-scenery-or-a-grand-rock-like-a-beautiful/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [Witchcraft is one of the most baseless, absurd, disgusting and silly of all the humbugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/witchcraft-is-one-of-the-most-baseless-absurd-disgusting-and-silly-of/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [I never liked to work, I mean manual work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/i-never-liked-to-work-i-mean-manual-work/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [Literature is one of the most interesting and significant expressions of humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/literature-is-one-of-the-most-interesting-and-significant-expressions/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [No man ever went broke overestimating the ignorance of the American public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/no-man-ever-went-broke-overestimating-the-ignorance-of-the-american/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [I am a showman by profession... and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/i-am-a-showman-by-profession-and-all-the-gilding-shall-make-nothing/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [The foundation of success in life is good health: that is the substratum fortune; it is also the basis of happiness. A person cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/the-foundation-of-success-in-life-is-good-health-that-is-the/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [I think it is conceded that I generally do pretty big things as a manager, am audacious in my outlays and risks, give much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/i-think-it-is-conceded-that-i-generally-do-pretty-big-things-as-a/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [Men, women, and children who cannot live on gravity alone need something to satisfy their gayer, lighter moods and hours, and he who ministers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/men-women-and-children-who-cannot-live-on-gravity-alone-need/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [The bigger the humbug, the better people will like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/the-bigger-the-humbug-the-better-people-will-like-it/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) [Explore all 92 P. T. Barnum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) ## More Excellent quotes > [Unmarried couples should get married - that's an excellent tax avoidance measure, if a bit drastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whiting/unmarried-couples-should-get-married-that-s-an-excellent-tax/) [John Whiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-whiting/) > [Things are going well in Germany because the economy is booming and as an export-driven nation, we are profiting from the fact that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/things-are-going-well-in-germany-because-the-economy-is-booming-and/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“I follow the Law—the Most Excellent Law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/i-follow-the-law-the-most-excellent-law/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [David Cronenberg is the most provocative, original, and consistently excellent North American director of his generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-hoberman/david-cronenberg-is-the-most-provocative-original-and-consistently/) [J. Hoberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-hoberman/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Drill in exact translation is an excellent way of disposing the mind against that looseness and exaggeration with which the sensationalists have corrupted our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-weaver/drill-in-exact-translation-is-an-excellent-way-of-disposing-the-mind/) [Richard M. Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-weaver/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I'm not sure I would have ever started to draw, let alone write, if my childhood hadn't been so happy. It was a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-m-not-sure-i-would-have-ever-started-to-draw-let-alone-write-if-my/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [President Bush has had an outstanding Secretary of State in Colin Powell and there are not many people who could replace him, making Condoleezza…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/president-bush-has-had-an-outstanding-secretary-of-state-in-colin/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whatever-we-may-say-against-collections-which-present-authors-in-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Many persons have been confused and discouraged at the very outset of the study by the great variety and the delicate distinctions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-staunton/many-persons-have-been-confused-and-discouraged-at-the-very-outset-of/) [Howard Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-staunton/) > [Mindfulness is being aware of yourself, others, and your surroundings in the moment. When consciously and kindly focusing awareness on life as it unfolds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-thoele/mindfulness-is-being-aware-of-yourself-others-and-your-surroundings/) [Sue Thoele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-thoele/) [Browse all 1,413 Excellent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Money is in some respects like fire; it is a very excellent servant but a terrible master.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "P. T. Barnum" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/money-is-in-some-respects-like-fire-it-is-a-very-excellent-servant/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excellent" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/money-is-in-some-respects-like-fire-it-is-a-very-excellent-servant/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/p-t-barnum-7389_excellent_money-is-in-some-respects-like-fire-it-i_779031.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/p-t-barnum-7389_excellent_money-is-in-some-respects-like-fire-it-i_779031.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/p-t-barnum-7389_excellent_money-is-in-some-respects-like-fire-it-i_779031.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Money is in some respects like fire; it is a very excellent servant but a terrible master.” — P. T. Barnum", "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": "P. T. Barnum", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Money is in some respects like...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/money-is-in-some-respects-like-fire-it-is-a-very-excellent-servant/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/money-is-in-some-respects-like-fire-it-is-a-very-excellent-servant/#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 } } ] } ```