“You reflect that he is worth twenty thousand dollars, and you incur no risk by endorsing his note; you like to accommodate him, and you lend your name without taking the precaution of getting security. Shortly after, he shows you the note with your endorsement canceled, and tells you, probably truly, 'that he made the profit that he expected by the operation,' you reflect that you have done a good action, and the thought makes you feel happy. By and by, the same thing occurs again and you do it again; you have already fixed the impression in your mind that it is perfectly safe to indorse his notes without security.”
More from P.T. Barnum
“The show must go on.”
“Comfort, the enemy of progress.”
“The noblest art is that of making others happy.”
“When was the last time you smiled? Or had a good laugh? A real laugh.”