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

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.

Paying good wages is not in opposition to good productivity.

Technology helps us become more efficient and productive but our business still has a lot of art as opposed to strictly science.

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 much good to have a quality image, whether it's with the facility or whether it's with the merchandise, if you don't have real quality people taking care of your customers.

If you've got to work for the rest of your life, you'd better do something you'll enjoy.