“Apply yourself. Get all the education you can, but then, by God, do something. Don't just stand there, make it happen.”

“The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works, is the family.”

“No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished?”

“We at Chrysler borrow money the old-fashioned way. We pay it back.”

“There are times when even the best manager is like the little boy with the big dog, waiting to see where the dog wants to go so he can take him there.”

“I have found that being honest is the best technique I can use. Right up front, tell people what you're trying to accomplish and what you're willing to sacrifice to accomplish it.”

“There is no substitute for accurate knowledge. Know yourself, know your business, know your men.”

“In the end, all business operations can be reduced to three words: people, product, and profits.”

“A guy named Charlie Beacham was my first mentor at Ford. He taught me the importance of the dealers, and he rubbed my nose in the retail business.”

“Every business and every product has risks. You can't get around it.”

“I forgot to shake hands and be friendly. It was an important lesson about leadership.”

“Management is nothing more than motivating other people.”

“Motivation is everything. You can do the work of two people, but you can't be two people. Instead, you have to inspire the next guy down the line and get him to inspire his people.”