Phineas Taylor Barnum (July 5, 1810-April 7, 1891)

Phineas Taylor Barnum (July 5, 1810-April 7, 1891) was an American exhibitor and philanthropist. He originated 'The Greatest Show of Earth.'

Selling millions of tickets, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus' big draws included General Tom Thumb, a man only 25 inches tall, and elephant "Jumbo," whose name entered the dictionary.

Barnum, who was received by President Lincoln and gave a command performance for Queen Victoria, stated:

<Most persons, on the whole, are humbugged by believing too little, than by believing too much.> 1810PB003

<Politeness and civility are the best capital ever invested in business.>1810PB004

<The best kind of charity is to help those who are willing to help themselves.> 1810PB005

<The desire for wealth is nearly universal, and none can say it is not laudable, provided the possessor of it accepts its responsibilities, and uses it as a friend to humanity.> 1810PB006

Phineas Taylor Barnum stated:

<Christ was sent into the world by our kind Father in Heaven to teach that "God is Love"; that love is the fulfilling of the law; and turn us away from our transgressions by showing us that the "way of the transgressor is hard," and always will be hard as long as we transgress; but charity, unselfishness, and a godly life is filled with joy and peace-that at the last the Almighty Father, being Almighty, and being our Father, will bring about immediate harmony.

The old Bible I believe to be as correct a history as could have been formed in remote ages-containing accounts of various lives and experiences by which we ought to profit. The New Testament abounds in testimony of the undying love of our Saviour for all, and especially for the poor, the unfortunate, and the erring. His mission was to teach them, and to save them from their sins by reconciling them to their Heavenly Father, and not reconciling Him to His created beings, for He was never unreconciled.> 1810PB001

As the circus not open on Sundays, Barnum let his New York Great Roman Hippodrome be used by Dwight Lyman Moody for evangelistic campaigns. When Barnum's show began traveling, D.L. Moody, with help from

J.P. Morgan and Cornelius Vanderbilt, transformed the Hippodrome into a revival tabernacle.

P.T. Barnum stated:

<Most persons, on the whole, are humbugged by believing too little, than by believing too much.> 1810PB002

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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.

Endnotes:

1810PB001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Phineas Taylor Barnum, statement. Stephen Abbott Northrop, D.D., A Cloud of Witnesses (Portland, Oregon: American Heritage Ministries, 1987; Mantle Ministries, 228 Still Ridge, Bulverde, Texas), p. 25.

1810PB002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Phineas Taylor Barnum, statement. Perry Tanksley, To Love is to Give (Jackson, Mississippi: Allgood Books, Box 1329; Parthenon Press, 201 8th Ave., South, Nashville, Tennessee, 1972), p. 25.


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