Who said “A man, as a general rule, owes very little to what he is born with -- a man is what he…”?

Verified

Alexander Graham Bell. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceBell Telephone Talk (1901)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Bell Telephone Talk (1901).

APA

Bell, A. G. (n.d.). A man, as a general rule, owes very little to what he is born with -- a man is what he makes of himself. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/25167-a-man-as-a-general-rule-owes-very/

MLA

Bell, Alexander Graham. “A man, as a general rule, owes very little to what he is born with -- a man is what he makes of himself.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/25167-a-man-as-a-general-rule-owes-very/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Bell, Alexander Graham. “A man, as a general rule, owes very little to what he is born with -- a man is what he makes of himself.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/25167-a-man-as-a-general-rule-owes-very/.