Donald Trump

Philanthropic efforts are among the best rewards you can have for a life well lived.

Most of them have gotten really good at saying absolutely nothing. They’ve all got some kind of program, but when you listen to them, you still don’t know what they’re talking about.

Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on.

Any negative polls are fake news, just like the CNN, ABC, NBC polls in the election.

I have a very simple rule when it comes to management: hire the best people from your competitors, pay them more than they were earning, and give them bonuses and incentives based on their performance. That’s how you build a first-class operation.

Always think positively and expect the best.

Too many would-be executives are slaves of routine.

The quality of an organization can never exceed the quality of the minds that make it up.

Always be smarter than the people who hire you.

[In 1990 on the president of MCA calling and saying ‘We’re going to make you the biggest offer this company has ever made, and I’m going to send it to you by messenger right now.’] It’s 1990. Send me a fax.

Determine to do some thinking for yourself. Don’t live entirely upon the thoughts of others. Don’t be an automaton.

We know everything about our clients – if they like their dressing gowns heated, what colour flowers they like, if their chef works left-handed – we know everything and we incorporate it into our work for them.

I believe in trusting men, not only once but twice – in giving a failure another chance.

If you go through some big corporate change, it’s just not going to be the same. If we sold to Yahoo, they would have done something different; if you want to continue your vision of the company, then don’t sell because there’s inevitably going to be some change.

[on Steve jobs] Our relationship was based almost always on him calling up and asking, ‘Is this a good deal?’ I’m not in his business, and I wasn’t trying to be. I was just a guy who admired him a lot and was flattered he wanted my advice.

I think shareholders are the great evil of this modern world.

Acquiring the habit of note-taking is therefore a wonderfully complementary skill to that of listening.

There has never been a time when a career in the Penney Company was not a challenge that brought out the best in a man.

A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don’t need it.

The way I run my business seems to be easier than the way I run my life.

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