We must reject the idea... Well-intentioned, but dead wrong... That the primary path to greatness in the social sectors is to become "more like a business." Most businesses... Like most of anything else in life... Fall somewhere between mediocre and good.

You need self-control in an out-of-control world.

A culture of discipline is not a principle of business, it is a principle of greatness.

In a truly great company profits and cash flow become like blood and water to a healthy body: They are absolutely essential for life but they are not the very point of life

Good is the enemy of great. And that's one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great.

To have a Welch-caliber C.E.O. is impressive.To have a century of Welch-Caliber C.E.O.'s all grown from the inside - well, that is one key reason why G.E. is a visionary company.

It's what you do before you are in trouble, so that you can be strong when people most need you.