It is improper for one person to take credit when it takes so many people to build a successful organization. When you try to be top dong, you don't create loyalty. It you can't give credit (and take blame), you will drown in you inability to inspire.

There was a proposal in California that would keep out Wal-Mart but allow Costco. You opposed it. Are you nuts? That's true: I always oppose these kinds of things. Competition makes us better. Some of our best stores have a Sam's Club next door.

Our attitude is that if you hire good people and pay them a fair wage, then good things will happen for the company.

I say at our management conferences that the amount Wal-Mart grows in just one year is the equivalent of Costco's size.

Paying good wages is not in opposition to good productivity.

If we take care of the business and keep our eye on the goal line, the stock price will take care of itself.

You could raise the price of, say, a bottle of ketchup to $1.03 instead of $1, and no one would know. Raising prices just 3% per product would add 50% to your pretax income. Why not do it? It's like heroin: You do a little and you want a little bit more. Raising prices is the easy way.