The surest foundation of a manufacturing concern is quality. After that, and a long way after, comes cost.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
Quality in a classical Greek sense is how to live with grace and intelligence, with bravery and mercy.
—Theodore H. White (1915–86) American Journalist, Historian, Novelist
If you think of standardization as the best that you know today, but which is to be improved tomorrow, you get somewhere.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
One of the rarest things that a man ever does, is to do the best he can.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
If you want a quality, act as if you already had it. Try the “as if” technique.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
A country can be judged by the quality of its proverbs.
—German Proverb
Quicker by taking more time.
—Common Proverb
I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.
—John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) American Oil Magnate, Philanthropist
High people, Sir, are the best: Take a hundred ladies of quality, you’ll find them better wives, better mothers, more willing to sacrifice their own pleasures to their children, than a hundred other women.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
No good book or good thing of any kind shows it best face at first. No the most common quality of in a true work of art that has excellence and depth, is that at first sight it produces a certain disappointment.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Pay beforehand if you would have your work poorly done.
—Common Proverb
The job can’t be finished only improved to please the customer.
—W. Edwards Deming (1900–93) American Engineer, Statistician
The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
Whether for life or death, do your own work well.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
Make the workmanship surpass the materials.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
We are never so ridiculous from the habits we have as from those that we affect to have.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
It is the quality of our work which will please God and not the quantity.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.
—Steve Jobs (1955–2011) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Quality will be prized as a precious possession.
—Unknown
I have never known a concern to make a decided success that did not do good, honest work, and even in these days of fiercest competition, when everything would seem to be a matter of price, there lies still at the root of great business success the very much more important factor of quality. The effect of attention to quality, upon every man in the service, from the president of the concern down to the humblest laborer, cannot be overestimated.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
Quality is a direct experience independent of and prior to intellectual abstractions.
—Robert M. Pirsig (b.1928) American Writer, Philosopher, Author
The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
By the work one knows the workmen.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
The chief ingredients in the composition of those qualities that gain esteem and praise, are good nature, truth, good sense, and good breeding.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
The qualities of a great man are vision, integrity, courage, understanding, the power of articulation, and profundity of character.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.
—Sun Tzu (fl.c.544–496 BCE) Chinese General, Military Theorist
It is not the quantity but the quality of knowledge which determines the mind’s dignity.
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
When a man is no longer anxious to do better than well, he is done for.
—Benjamin Haydon (1786–1846) English Painter, Writer
It’s the quality of the ordinary, the straight, the square, that accounts for the great stability and success of our nation. It’s a quality to be proud of. But it’s a quality that many people seem to have neglected.
—Gerald Ford (1913–2006) American Head of State
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