Capitalism needs to function like a game of tug-of-war. Two opposing sides need to continually struggle for dominance, but at read more

Capitalism needs to function like a game of tug-of-war. Two opposing sides need to continually struggle for dominance, but at no time can either side be permitted to walk away with the rope.

We live in a time of transition, an uneasy era which is likely to endure for the rest of this read more

We live in a time of transition, an uneasy era which is likely to endure for the rest of this century. During the period we may be tempted to abandon some of the time-honored principles and commitments which have been proven during the difficult times of past generations. We must never yield to this temptation. Our American values are not luxuries, but necessities - not the salt in our bread, but the bread itself.
in his farewell address.

Whales only get harpooned when they come to the surface, and turtles can only move forward when they stick their read more

Whales only get harpooned when they come to the surface, and turtles can only move forward when they stick their neck out, but investors face risk no matter what they do.

Avarice is the vice of declining years.

Avarice is the vice of declining years.

A computer will not make a good manager out of a bad manager. It makes a good manager better faster read more

A computer will not make a good manager out of a bad manager. It makes a good manager better faster and a bad manager worse faster.

The business that considers itself immune to the necessity for advertising sooner or later finds itself immune to business.

The business that considers itself immune to the necessity for advertising sooner or later finds itself immune to business.

All people, however fanatical they may be in their zeal to disparage and to fight capitalism, implicitly pay homage to read more

All people, however fanatical they may be in their zeal to disparage and to fight capitalism, implicitly pay homage to it by passionately clamoring for the products it turns out.

Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded- here and there, read more

Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded- here and there, now and then- are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.This is known as "bad luck.".

The boss must first distinguish between action information and status information. He must discipline himself not to act on problems read more

The boss must first distinguish between action information and status information. He must discipline himself not to act on problems his managers can solve, and never to act on problems when he is explicitly reviewing status. I once knew a boss who invariably picked up the phone to give orders before the end of the first paragraph in a status report. That response is guaranteed to squelch full disclosure.