I forgive all personal weaknesses except egomania and pretension.

You must be very patient, very persistent. The world isn't going to shower gold coins on you just because you have a good idea. You're going to have to work like crazy to bring that idea to the attention of people. They're not going to buy it unless they know about it.

Succession planning has been a major priority at Southwest for quite some time. We think we have come up with a winning combination of talent for our company reorganization.

Everybody in Texas would tell me that they thought I was nuts trying to start Southwest Airlines. There probably weren't 10 people in the state who would have given a plug nickel for our chances of making a dollar. So sometimes, you need a little courage, too, just to buck popular opinion.

It takes nerves of steel to stay neurotic.

The important thing is to take the bricklayer and make him understand that he’s building a home, not just laying bricks.

The clear, unmistakable sign of a bureaucrat is somebody who worries about whether he has a window.