The McDonald brothers were simply not on my wavelength at all. I was obsessed with the idea of making McDonald's the biggest and the best. They were content with what they had; they didn't want to be bothered with more risks and more demands.

Happiness is not a tangible thing, it's a byproduct - a byproduct of achievement.

As long as you're green, you're growing. As soon as you're ripe, you start to rot.

In my experience, good executives don't make mistakes.

McDonald's is a people business, and that smile on that counter girl's face when she takes your order is a vital part of our image.

You must perfect every fundamental of your business if you expect it to perform well.

I was 52 years old. I had diabetes and incipient arthritis. I had lost my gall bladder and most of my thyroid gland in earlier campaigns, but I was convinced the best was ahead of me.