David Ogilvy

Much of the messy advertising you see on television today is the product of committees. Committees can criticize advertisements, but they should never be allowed to create them.

It strikes me as bad manners for a magazine to accept one of my advertisements and then attack it editorially – like inviting a man to dinner then spitting in his eye.

I don’t know the rules of grammar. If you’re trying to persuade people to do something, or buy something, it seems to me you should use their language, the language they use every day, the language in which they think. We try to write in the vernacular.

First, make yourself a reputation for being a creative genius. Second, surround yourself with partners who are better than you are. Third, leave them to go get on with it.

Advertising reflects the mores of society, but it does not influence them.

It is flagrantly dishonest for an advertising agent to urge consumers to buy a product which he would not allow his own wife to buy.

They encouraged me to always look for the good in people instead of assuming the worst and trying to find fault.

Ninety-nine percent of advertising doesn’t sell much of anything.

First, make yourself a reputation for being a creative genius. Second, surround yourself with partners who are better than you are. Third, leave them to go get on with it.

It is flagrantly dishonest for an advertising agent to urge consumers to buy a product which he would not allow his own wife to buy.

I do not believe in excuses. I believe in hard work as the prime solvent of life’s problems.

The great need of the world has always been for leaders. With more leaders we could have more industry. More industry, more employment and comfort for all.

After the situation with Kursk submarine, I started looking at Mr. Berezovsky in a completely different way. For me, it was a turning point in our relationship. I think that he took a completely dishonorable position.

Competition whose motive is merely to compete, to drive some other fellow out, never carries very far.

In Moscow I feel most comfortable. I’m used to four different seasons; it’s difficult for people in London to understand. People brought up in Russia like my kids want to play in the snow.

Courteous treatment will make a customer a walking advertisement.

A good advertisement is one which sells the product without drawing attention to itself.

A monopoly of jobs in this country is just as bad as a monopoly of bread!

Sales are contingent upon the attitude of the salesman – not the attitude of the prospect.

Investors have very short memories.

Anything that is not right, whether it temporarily favors the employees or the employers, cannot last-because it is not right.