David Ogilvy

I always said that mega-mergers were for megalomaniacs.

Many people – and I think I am one of them – are more productive when they’ve had a little to drink. I find if I drink two or three brandies, I’m far better able to write.

Advertising is only evil when it advertises evil things.

Never stop testing, and your advertising will never stop improving.

There is no need for advertisements to look like advertisements. If you make them look like editorial pages, you will attract about 50 per cent more readers.

I did not feel ‘evil’ when I wrote advertisements for Puerto Rico. They helped attract industry and tourists to a country which had been living on the edge of starvation for 400 years.

Many manufacturers secretly question whether advertising really sells their product, but are vaguely afraid that their competitors might steal a march on them if they stopped.

It’s all too easy to miss out on the important moments in life because you’re too busy staring at your phone.

We pay attention to every demographic in every country, so we’re going to focus on building things that teens are going to like, and we’re also going to focus on building things that other folks are going to like.

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.

The thought in my mind was that I must be a good merchant. If I were a good merchant, the rest would probably take care of itself.

I have a great, great company. I employ thousands of people. And I’m very proud of the job I did.

I remember flying in, driving down 101 in a cab, and passing by all these tech companies like Yahoo! I remember thinking, ‘Maybe someday we’ll build a company. This probably isn’t it, but one day we will.’

To be most effective in sales today, it’s imperative to drop your ‘sales’ mentality and start working with your prospects as if they’ve already hired you.

Prune – prune businesses, products, activities, people. Do it annually.

The golden rule for every businessman is this: Put yourself in your customer’s place.

America is not a land of money but of wealth-not a land of rich people, but of successful workers.

Burdening people with debt is an old deal not a new deal.

I never get the accountants in before I start up a business. It’s done on gut feeling, especially if I can see that they are taking the mickey out of the consumer.

In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield.

I notice increasing reluctance on the part of marketing executives to use judgment; they are coming to rely too much on research, and they use it as a drunkard uses a lamp post for support, rather than for illumination.