Henry Ford (1863–1947) was an American automobile industrialist and pioneer of large-scale mass production. He had a profound influence on the widespread use of motor vehicles. One of his key innovations, the moving assembly line, is the epitome of modern manufacturing.
Born on a farm near Dearborn, Michigan, Ford initially worked as a machine-shop apprentice, traction car operator, and engineer for the Edison Illuminating Company. He developed a gas-engine car in 1892, founded Ford Motor Company in 1903, and designed the Model T in 1908.
Inspired by Chicago’s meat-processing industry, Ford introduced a moving assembly line in 1913. It revolutionized industrial mass production. Ford then raised the minimum wage to $5 a day and reduced the workday to eight hours. Ford’s innovations ushered not just the automobile but also a wide variety of consumer goods to the mass market, opening the door to modern consumer culture.
Ford became infamous for his virulent anti-Semitic outlook, which he disseminated through his newspaper, The Dearborn Independent. His leadership style was increasingly domineering; his anti-unionism caused labor violence at Ford plants during the Great Depression.
In later life, Ford withdrew from the day-to-day leadership of the Ford Motor Company and lived reclusively on his 2,000-acre Dearborn estate. He pursued many philanthropic projects, including Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital and the Ford Foundation.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Henry Ford
Never complain. Never explain.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Pessimism, Complaints, Complaining
It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning.
—Henry Ford
Asking “who ought to be the boss” is like asking “who ought to be the tenor in the quartet?” Obviously, the man who can sing tenor.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Leadership
Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Miscellaneous, Beginnings, Togetherness, Teamwork, Teams
Think you can, think you can’t; either way, you’ll be right.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Optimism, Positive Attitudes
Capital punishment is as fundamentally wrong as a cure for crime as charity is wrong as a cure for poverty.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Justice, Crime
When everything seems to be going against you, remember the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.
—Henry Ford
The question “Who ought to be boss?” is like asking “Who ought to be the tenor in the quartet?” Obviously, the man who can sing tenor.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Abilities, Leadership, Work, Talents, Ability
None of our men are “experts.” We have most unfortunately found it necessary to get rid of a man as soon as he thinks himself an expert because no one ever considers himself expert if he really knows his job. A man who knows a job sees so much more to be done than he has done, that he is always pressing forward and never gives up an instant of thought to how good and how efficient he is. Thinking always ahead, thinking always of trying to do more, brings a state of mind in which nothing is impossible. The moment one gets into the “expert” state of mind a great number of things become impossible.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Goals
Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Secrets of Success, Success
Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.
—Henry Ford
Life is work, and everything you do is so much more experience. Sometimes you work for wages, sometimes not, but what does anybody make but a living? And whatever you have you must either use or lose.
—Henry Ford
Topics: One liners, Work, Usefullness
Integrity is crucial for business success – once you can fake that, you’ve got it made.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Honor
For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks, disappointments and griefs which we endure help us in our marching onward
—Henry Ford
Topics: Character, Experience
There are two fools in this world. One is the millionaire who thinks that by hoarding money he can somehow accumulate real power, and the other is the penniless reformer who thinks that if only he can take the money from one class and give it to another, all the world’s ills will be cured.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Fools, Foolishness
I am looking for a lot of men who have an infinite capacity to not know what can’t be done. If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Money, Goals, Security, Knowledge, Possibilities, Safety, Potential
Don’t find fault. Find a remedy.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Faults, Mistakes, Problem-solving, Action
Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Integrity, Quality, One liners
If you think of standardization as the best that you know today, but which is to be improved tomorrow, you get somewhere.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Morals, Quality
Anyone who stops learning is old, whether twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning today is young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Learning, Mind, Knowledge
The question Who ought to be boss? is like as Who ought to be the tenor in the quartet? Obviously, the man who can sing tenor.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Ability
Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Confidence, Beliefs
Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Entrepreneurs, Progress, Success, Teamwork
Whether you think you can or think you can’t – you are right.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Think, Ability, Right, Virtues, Belief
If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Teamwork
Most people spend more time and energy going around problems than in trying to solve them.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Problems
One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t do.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Discovery, Fear
He who would really benefit mankind must reach them through their work.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Work
The cure for “materialism” is to have enough for everybody and to spare. When people are sure of having what they need they cease to think about it.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Money, Poverty
Profit is a by-product of work; happiness is its chief product.
—Henry Ford
Topics: Happiness
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