You don't have a very motivated working class, it starts to affect the dynamics of the economy. If workers are disenchanted and disenfranchised, productivity losses will go along with that.

It doesn't do much good to have a quality image, whether it's with the facility or whether it's with the merchandise, if you don't have real quality people taking care of your customers.

We've always been in favor of improved wages for workers. When you have a strong middle class, they want to buy more stuff at Costco.

When employees are happy, they are your very best ambassadors.

I think the biggest single thing that causes difficulty in the business world is the short-term view. We become obsessed with it. But it forces bad decisions.

Our attitude is that if you hire good people and pay them a fair wage, then good things will happen for the company.

Obscene salaries send the wrong message through a company.

You destroy the initiative of the working people if they don't feel they have a fighting chance to be a part of the American Dream.

You just can't get too focused on worrying about what's going to happen in the next quarter. You have to worry about where the business is headed long-term.

If we take care of the business and keep our eye on the goal line, the stock price will take care of itself.

Paying good wages is not in opposition to good productivity.

Creating a better futureRequires creativity in the present.

Once a year I need to hear you tell me how proud you are of me for growing a little more.

One deed from a sage achieves more than a thousand deeds from warriors.

The brain is wider than the sky.

I always say the things you're not supposed to.

Funding from rich countries to help the poor and vulnerable adapt to climate change is not even one percent of what is needed. This glaring injustice must be addressed at Copenhagen in December .

Some secrets should never turn into confessions. I know that better than anyone.

It's important to know that words don't move mountains. Work, exacting work moves mountains.

People refer to 'the good ol' days', but I don't know what they're talking about. As someone who's battled cancer, if I lived more than 20 years ago, I'd be a dead man.

No one can tell me what to do on my skateboard. My skateboard is my safe spot. I can learn tricks, I can have fun, I can do whatever I want on my skateboard.