# What should I put on my checks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 30, 1999, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221 "1999-10-30T08:07:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/1 "1999-10-30T08:07:00Z")
So I’m ordering new checks. I decided to pay a bit extra for something that fits my personality. Thus, here is the design I will purchase: \\\ Now then, on this check, I can put a quotation of sorts right above the signature line. It can be up to two lines of 4 characters (including spaces). Given a) The style of check I will be using, and b) the fact it IS a check and c) my personality, I have narrowed the choices down to the following. \\ “Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives.” Every society honors its live conformists and its dead troublemakers. “Speak not of my debts unless you mean to pay them.” - English Proverb “Why should the devil have all the good tunes?” - Rowland Hill “Be yourself, who else is better qualified?” - Frank J. Giblin “Music should never be harmless.” - Robbie Robertson “Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.” - Woody Allen “Money is something you got to make in case you don’t die.” - Max Asnas Normal is not something to aspire to, it’s something to get away from. “Alas! how deeply painful is all payment!” - Lord Byron “I would rather be remembered by a song than by a victory.” - Alexander Smith \\ Okay, so I leave it to my fellow Dopers. Which quote of the above do you like best, taking into consideration where it will be used and whom will be using it? Or do you, maybe, have something better? Please let me know, so I can start confusing and/or amusing my bank for years to come! * * * Yer pal, Satan ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/2 "1999-10-30T08:16:00Z")
hey, satan - i like the “speak not of my debts…” (and BTW, I think it was Luther who said the bit about the devil and good tunes - can Polycarp or Pickman’s fill us in?) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/3 "1999-10-30T08:29:00Z")
Not sure about which quote…but I have to say that I think I am warped for life after seeing the “[Body Smells](http://www.coolchecks.com/smells.htm)” collection of checks over at that site! * * * – O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![meek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@meek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meek)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/4 "1999-10-30T08:35:00Z")
Probably not what you’re looking for, but how about… “Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant.” - P.T. Barnum (1810-1891) or… “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” - John F. Kennedy ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/5 "1999-10-30T09:15:00Z")
I like the first quote you listed in the OP, it fits the design very well, and I gather your personality. I like the third quote as well, and it is perfect for a checkbook. So I guess I’d need to decide if I want the quote to be appropriate to the checks or to the personality. Not much help, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/6 "1999-10-30T09:29:00Z")
We can put Smug’s first entry into the fray. However, the second one is too long - All I got to play with is two lines of 40 characters (including spaces). Not 4 characters as I wrote above… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/7 "1999-10-30T12:14:00Z")
I’m going with either “Alas! How deeply painful is all payment!” or “Money is something you got to make in case you don’t die”. * * * You say “cheesy” like that’s a **BAD** thing. ---
**Author:** ![Therealbubba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/db5fbb/32.png) [@Therealbubba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Therealbubba)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/8 "1999-10-30T13:23:00Z")
> [@](#): > > “Money is something you got to make in > case you don’t die.” - Max Asnas Therealbubba ---
**Author:** ![Yankee\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7ea924/32.png) [@Yankee\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankee_Blue)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/9 "1999-10-30T13:33:00Z")
I like the Byron quote. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/10 "1999-10-30T14:48:00Z")
I like the Byron quote, too. ---
**Author:** ![Konrad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@Konrad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Konrad)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/11 "1999-10-30T15:07:00Z")
Satan: Your real goal here would be to find something disturbing enough that at least some people will be afraid to cash your cheques. Then it’s like free money! Maybe write a curse on it: May he who cashes this be cursed with phleghm of a thousand llamas. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/12 "1999-10-30T15:10:00Z")
I like: > [@](#): > > “Speak not of my debts unless you mean > to pay them.” - English Proverb * * * A friend is someone who likes you even though you’re as ugly as a hat full of assholes. [Zettecity](http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/zettecity/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![PurpleCrackwhore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc348/32.png) [@PurpleCrackwhore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleCrackwhore)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/13 "1999-10-30T15:13:00Z")
My vote is for Byron. It seems the most appropriate for above your signature. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/14 "1999-10-30T15:20:00Z")
they all seem to work pretty well. Did you know you can make your own design? Draw it on paper for them. Cost a bit more the first time. Also, they don’t allow every design. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 1999, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/15 "1999-10-31T05:44:00Z")
Oh Satan,this is so funny. I didn’t see your op very well,I thought it said what do I put on my cheeks?LOL. 😃 It figures,all anyone can think about you now is your butt! ha Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisCTP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@ChrisCTP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisCTP)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/16 "1999-10-30T19:34:00Z")
I post not with the intent to hijack, but merely toss my two pennies into the barrel. I must be the only person in the world who just gets plain old checks. I’m just going to be giving them away, you know? Why bother getting something fancy? FTR, I’m the same with toilet paper and garbage bags…no reason to pay extra for something you’re just going to be getting rid of. Proceed. * * * “ChrisCTP-…the sweetheart of the SDMB…” --Diane Chris’ Homepage: [Domestic Bliss](http://www2.crosswinds.net/~domesticbliss/) ---
**Author:** ![ChrisCTP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@ChrisCTP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisCTP)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/17 "1999-10-30T19:36:00Z")
However, I will spend extra for custom checks ONCE if it means they’re going to send me a really cool checkbook cover that I can use over and over again. * * * “ChrisCTP-…the sweetheart of the SDMB…” --Diane Chris’ Homepage: [Domestic Bliss](http://www2.crosswinds.net/~domesticbliss/) ---
**Author:** ![chief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@chief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chief)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/18 "1999-10-30T20:46:00Z")
“Alas! how deeply painful is all payment!” - Lord Byron it fits perfectly 🙂 * * * Chief’s Domain - [http://www.seas.ucla.edu/~ravi](http://www.seas.ucla.edu/~ravi) ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/19 "1999-10-30T21:18:00Z")
I say stick with the classic… “Yer Pal, Satan.” or “By endorsing this this check you are hereby agreeing to sell your soul to Satan.” ---
**Author:** ![omniscientnot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a5b964/32.png) [@omniscientnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omniscientnot)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221/20 "1999-10-30T23:08:00Z")
I’d go with the proverb or with Lord Byron. A few others for your perusal, if I may: “The trick is to stop thinking of it as ‘your’ money” (An IRS Auditor) “We haven’t the money, so we’ve got to think” (Lord Rutherford) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-put-on-my-checks/10221.md?page=2)