"Money isn't everything, but it's a long way ahead of what comes next." - Edmund Stockdale

"Don’t stay in bed, unless you can make money in bed." — George Burns

George Burns (January 20, 1896 – March 9, 1996) was an American actor, comedian and writer.  His career was resurrected later in life as he lived to be 100 even after smoking cigars since birth.

This quote has a lot of truth to it... there's always a way to be making money... whether it be reading, writing, or working on business plans and ideas.  Unless you're a genius dreamer, make sure you're spending your time wisely and not sleeping your life away.  Invest in yourself by educating yourself and learning as much as possible.

"It's just paper - all I own is a pickup truck and a little Wal-Mart stock." - Sam Walton

Sam Walton (1918-1992) was an American businessman and entrepreneur.  In 1945 he started out by purchasing a Ben Franklin store in Newport, Arkansas with $20,000 from his father-in-law and $5,000 he'd saved from the army.  It was here where he pioneered the high volume, low price business model that Wal-Mart dominates today. 

After Walton opened the first Ben Franklin store it took 17 years before he opened the first Wal-Mart.  Good move Sam, I think it worked out for you. He made a ton of money and left it all to his kids and wife.  If you hate Wal-Mart you can thank Sam Walton.

Forbes ranked Sam Walton as the richest man in the United States from 1985 to 1988.

"If past history was all there was to the game, the richest people would be librarians." - Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett is an American businessman and investor.  He was at the top of the Forbes 500 richest people in the world in 2008 and fell to number 2 in 2009 behind Sir William Gates III as his fortune plunged from $62 billion to $37 billion in only 12 months.  Even the "Oracle of Omaha" isn't immune to the current financial crisis. 

"A bank is a place that will lend you money if you prove that you don’t need it." -- Bob Hope

Bob Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was a British-American comedian and actor.  He was also know for his involvement with the US Armed Forces and tour entertaining American military personnel.

Vintage microphones are awesome.  Anyway, this quote is still relevant today.  If you have excellent credit and a lot of money you can get the best rates and the biggest loans... makes sense, but then again doesn't make sense.

"When I was young I used to think that money was the most important thing in life and now that I am old, I know it is.” — Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde (October 16, 1854 – November 30, 1900) was Irish poet, playwright and author.  A lot like Richard Savvy, he was know for his wit.  Hopefully he was also known for his style... who else could pull off that cane and fur jacket?  Note: he does have about 6 paragraphs written about his sexuality on Wikipedia...

"Don't marry for money. You can borrow it cheaper." - Scotts Proverb

This Scottish Proverb is even more valid in 2009 with the US government lending money to banks at interest rates of zero and home mortgage rates at historic lows.

It sure feels good to know that the government is getting us further in debt by giving money to the banks, automakers and others failing industries while our national debt is rising so fast that we can't even provide enough digits for an accurate reading. 

I'm all for a stimulus package that will assist in avoiding the next great depression, but we've taken it too far.  The fed did not have any idea this crisis was lurking, and therefore got a late start in trying to do anything (they let Lehman fail).  Eventually the fed took steps in the right direction to free up the credit markets, but then began sprinting up the stairs and is now printing money like there's no tomorrow.  But there is a tomorrow... it will involve inflation, under funded pensions/social security and huge amounts of debt for our grandchildren.  Let's get our spending under control.

Check out the National Debt Clock... your family's share is around $153,000. 

"I have never been in a situation where having money made it worse." Clinton Jones.

Clinton Jones was a professional football player from 1967 to 1973.  He played 6 years with the Vikings, then finally got smart and played for the San Diego Chargers for a year.

"I'm not a paranoid derranged millionaire. Goddamit, I'm a billionaire."

Howard Hughes.

Howard Hughes (December 24, 1905 - April 5, 1976) was an American aviator, film producer, director and one of the wealthiest people in the world.  He also has the the cleanest white pants in the world due to his obsessive-compulsive disorder.  Hughes' $2.5 billion estate was split among 22 cousins in 1983... that would have been nice.