“I had learnt at the outset not to carry on public work with borrowed money. One could rely on people’s promises in most matters except in respect of money.”
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About this quote
Two hard lessons sit here. Build a shared effort on cash already in hand, not borrowing, so one bad stretch can't sink it — and treat pledged money as the flimsiest of promises, since people who keep their word on everything else still flake when their wallet is on the line.
When to use it
- A community theater that spends only donations already banked never lands in debt when a season flops.
- A founder budgets around signed checks, not the enthusiastic 'we're in' investors offer over dinner.
- A club treasurer waits for dues to actually clear before ordering equipment, sparing herself a shortfall.