Henry Ford

This is the only reason Greenfield Village exists-to give us a sense of unity with our people through the generations, and to convey the inspiration of American genius to our young men. As a nation we have not depended so much on rare or occasional genius as on the general resourcefulness of our people. That is our true genius, and I am hoping that Greenfield Village will serve that.

The partnership of mind and matter is one which has existed since the beginning of time and cannot be dissolved.

We are always seeking for those things which are in the clouds, not for those that lie at our feet.

Competition is the lifeblood of industry.

We have only started with the development of our country-we have not as yet, with all our talk of wonderful progress, done more than scratch the surface.

You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.

The five separate fingers are five independent units. Close them and the fist multiplies strength. This is organization.

Selling is our No. 1 job. Never get away from selling a lot of merchandise personally. The more you sell the more you learn.

My style of deal-making is quite simple and straightforward. I aim very high, and then I just keep pushing and pushing and pushing to get what I’m after.

You can’t do this! We have an arrangement! We have a contract!

Edison, to a greater extent than has ever been recognized, is the father of American industrial methods.

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.

Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.

On Beverly Hills we paid too much. One hundred per cent, we did over-pay. We didn’t do our research properly.

Change is vital, improvement the logical form of change.

I decided to sit quietly and do business and don’t stick your neck out and tell everybody everything belongs to me. That would only cause problems for myself. Therefore I never told these stories or declared all these things to anyone.

Some people have so much respect for their superiors they have none left for themselves.

There should be rivalry between men and between business.

Only one thing makes prosperity, and that is work.

Owning a great golf course gives you great power.

Mass production is craftsmanship with the drudgery taken out of it.