We make money the old-fashioned way. We earn it.

This line is best known as a modern, anonymous slogan rather than a traceable literary quotation. It has circulated widely in American business and advertising contexts—on signs, posters, and promotional copy—where it functions as a punchy declaration of self-reliance and legitimacy. The phrasing echoes older “old-fashioned way” formulas used in 20th-century commercial rhetoric to contrast honest labor with shortcuts, speculation, or unearned windfalls. Because it appears in many unattributed reproductions and is often adapted to fit different organizations, it is difficult to pin to a single first appearance, speaker, or dated publication with confidence.

The quote asserts a moral stance toward wealth: money is portrayed as something properly obtained through work rather than luck, inheritance, exploitation, or dubious schemes. “Old-fashioned” invokes nostalgia for an idealized ethic of diligence and straightforward dealing, implying that contemporary routes to riches can be suspect. The second sentence—“We earn it.”—tightens the claim into a blunt credo, emphasizing agency and merit. In practice, the line is often used to build trust (especially in sales or service industries) by signaling reliability and traditional values, while also serving as a subtle critique of get-rich-quick culture.

1) "We make money the old-fashioned way — we earn it." 2) "I make money the old-fashioned way: I earn it." 3) "We make our money the old-fashioned way. We earn it."