The operative assumption today is that someone, somewhere, has a better idea; and the operative compulsion is to find out who has that better idea, learn it, and put it into action-fast.

I might not be the brightest bulb in the chandelier, but I'm pretty good at getting most of the other bulbs to light up.

Be candid with everyone.

Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.

Change before you have to.

If you don't have a competitive advantage, don't compete.

Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.

On the face of it, shareholder value is the dumbest idea in the world.

Shareholder value is a result, not a strategy . . . Your main constituencies are your employees, your customers and your products.

If the rate of change on the outside exceeds the rate of change on the inside, the end is near.

Willingness to change is a strength, even if it means plunging part of the company into total confusion for a while.

If you want to be loved, LOVE. If you want to be understood, UNDERSTAND. If you want peace, MAKE PEACE. If you want light, LIGHT. If you want to be seen, SHINE. If you want to be heard, LISTEN.

The business of America is business.

Don't use your advance to buy an antique sports car, diamonds by the yard, or a bottle of wine from Thomas Jefferson's cellar instead of investing in your book.

I really have a lot of stuff in my head; if only there were insurance companies for that as there are for so many things.

Preceptive wisdom that has not been vivified by life has in itself no affinity for life.

What do you fear, lady?' he asked. 'A cage,' she said.

What happened happened. What's gonna happen, is gonna happen.

Among the attributes of God, although they are equal, mercy shines with even more brilliance than justice.

No woman is capable of being beautiful who is not incapable of being false.

The school curriculum today, particularly American history, is a shame.