Phil Knight Quotes

Play by the rules, but be ferocious.

It's alright to be Goliath but always act like David.

Dream audaciously. Have the courage to fail forward. Act with urgency.

Sports is like rock 'n' roll. Both are dominant cultural forces, both speak an international language, and both are all about emotions.

Dare to take chances, lest you leave your talent buried in the ground.

Make history or be a part of it.

Meeting sports athletes that are the best in the world is a thrill to this day.

Nike is a marketing-oriented company, and the product is our most important marketing tool.

We used to think that everything started in the lab. Now we realize that everything spins off the consumer.

The trouble in America is not that we are making too many mistakes, but that we are making too few.

We wanted Nike to be the world's best sports and fitness company. Once you say that, you have a focus. You don't end up making wing tips or sponsoring the next Rolling Stones world tour.

You can't explain much in 60 seconds, but when you show Michael Jordan, you don't have to. It's that simple.

It is possible to tell a customer "no", and have the customer thank you for doing it

My job is to listen to ideas, maybe cook up a few of my own, and make decisions based on what's good for the shareholders and for the company.

I'm Phil Knight, and I don't believe in advertising.

Up until the time I was 14 years old, I was sure that I was going to be a big-league baseball player. But that dream came to a rude awakening when I got cut from my high school baseball team.

I still get real nervous when I go in front of more than two people.

Perception can be changed

I truly believe the American consumer doesn’t want to buy products made under abusive conditions.

I don't consider myself enigmatic, but I don't spend a lot of time thinking about my public persona.

For some, I realize, business is the all-out pursuit of profits, period, full stop, but for us business was no more about making money than being human is about making blood.

Business is no more about making money than the human body is about making blood. Yes you need to make the stuff, but only to serve your higher aims.

He was easy to talk to, and easy not to talk to-equally important qualities in a friend. Essential in a travel companion.

He was easy to talk to, and easy not to talk to—equally important qualities in a friend.

Beating the competition is relatively easy. Beating yourself is a never-ending commitment.