You just can't get too focused on worrying about what's going to happen in the next quarter. You have to worry about where the business is headed long-term.

We've always been in favor of improved wages for workers. When you have a strong middle class, they want to buy more stuff at Costco.

Paying your employees well is not only the right thing to do but it makes for good business.

Paying good wages is not in opposition to good productivity.

If somehow a proclamation were made that C.E.O.'s could only make a maximum of $300,000 a year, you would not have any shortage of very qualified men and women seeking the jobs.

It doesn't do Costco any good if nobody can afford to buy anything.

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