Quality is a direct experience independent of and prior to intellectual abstractions.
—Robert M. Pirsig (b.1928) American Writer, Philosopher, Author
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
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
Make the workmanship surpass the materials.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
The quality of strength lined with tenderness is an unbeatable combination, as are intelligence and necessity when unblunted by formal education.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American Poet
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
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’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
The job can’t be finished only improved to please the customer.
—W. Edwards Deming (1900–93) American Engineer, Statistician
By the work one knows the workmen.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
Permit no hour to go by without it due improvement.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
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
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
Popularity is not an indication of quality.
—Vanna Bonta (1958–2014) Italian-American Novelist, Poet, Actress
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
If you want work well done, select a busy man; the other kind has no time.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
It is the quality of our work which will please God and not the quantity.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
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
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
Produce great pumpkins, the pies will follow later.
—Unknown
Quality in a product or service is not what the supplier puts in. It is what the customer gets out and is willing to pay for. A product is not quality because it is hard to make and costs a lot of money, as manufacturers typically believe. This is incompetence. Customers pay only for what is of use to them and gives them value. Nothing else constitutes quality.
—Peter Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-born Management Consultant
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
Pay beforehand if you would have your work poorly done.
—Common Proverb
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 happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts, therefore guard accordingly, and take care, that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
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
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 is not an act. It is a habit.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Quality will be prized as a precious possession.
—Unknown
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
Men of widely divergent views in our own country live in peace together because they share certain common aspirations which are more important than their differences…. The common responsibility of all Americans is to become effective, helpful participants in a way of life that blends and harmonizes the fiercely competitive demands of the individual and society.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
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
Many individuals have, like uncut diamonds, shining qualities beneath a rough exterior.
—Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet
Could everything be done twice it would be done better.
—Common Proverb
If you don’t have time to do it right you must have time to do it over.
—Unknown
Unionism, seldom if ever, uses such powers as it has to ensure better work; almost always it devotes a large part of that power to safeguard bad work.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
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
When I want any, good head work done; I always choose a man, if possible with a long nose.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
The qualities most needed are charity and tolerance, not some form of fanatical faith such as is offered to us by the various rampant isms.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
Your success will be affected by the quality and quantity of new ideas you suggest.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for ’tis better to be alone than in bad company.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
Once a job is fouled up, anything done to improve it makes it worse.
—Indian Proverb
Endurance is the crowning quality, and patience all the passion of great hearts.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
Leaders come in many forms, with many styles and diverse qualities. There are quiet leaders and leaders one can hear in the next county. Some find strength in eloquence, some in judgment, some in courage.
—John W. Gardner (1912–2002) American Activist
I think there is only one quality worse than hardness of heart and that is softness of head.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
So cheat your landlord if you can and must, but do not try to shortchange the Muse. It cannot be done. You can’t fake quality any more than you can fake a good meal.
—William S. Burroughs (1914–97) American Novelist, Poet, Short Story Writer, Painter
Whether for life or death, do your own work well.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
There is no labor a person does that is undignified; if they do it right.
—Bill Cosby (b.1937) American Actor, Comedian, Activist, Producer, Author
The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.
—Ray Kroc (1902–84) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson