James Cash Penney

Theory is splendid but until put into practice, it is valueless.

Salesmanship, too, is an art; the perfection of its technique requires study and practice.

A merchant who approaches business with the idea of serving the public well has nothing to fear from the competition.

The best of merchandise will go back to the shelf unless handled by a conscientious, tactful salesman.

Too many would-be executives are slaves of routine.

The Golden Rule finds no limit of application in business.

When two men in business always agree, one of them is unnecessary.

I never made any public statements, at least I tried never to make any public statements. I know I don’t do it well, I become very nervous, I forget what it is that I mean to say, I can’t really convey my logic and my thought to the journalists, so I decided this is not my thing, I really shouldn’t be doing it.

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.

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

A well-run restaurant is like a winning baseball team. It makes the most of every crew member’s talent and takes advantage of every split-second opportunity to speed up service.

If you are not taking care of your customer, your competitor will.

I started the site when I was 19. I didn’t know much about business back then.

Your business, and your brand, must first let people know what you care about, and that you care about them.

I believe that any stock that is sold should have real value as automobile or bushel of potatoes, and stock market should be run as a vegetable market.

I quickly figured out [that] the one ability I’d better have is to create relationships.

I always look at it that I work with my employees as opposed to them working for me.

You can’t tell me you can make any system or country work with low wages and high prices, and high wages with high prices don’t mean anything when the prices eat up the wages and don’t leave anything over.

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.

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.

The way out of the depression is to start spending and doing things.