The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.

While formal schooling is an important advantage, it is not a guarantee of success nor is its absence a fatal handicap.

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.

If any of my competitors were drowning, I'd stick a hose in their mouth and turn on the water. It is ridiculous to call this an industry. This is not. This is rat eat rat, dog eat dog. I'll kill 'em, and I'm going to kill 'em before they kill me. You're talking about the American way - of survival of the fittest.

Are you green and growing or ripe and rotting?

That's the name of the game ... pleasing the customer. If we ever lose sight of that fact, we've lost the ball game.

If you believe in it, and you believe in it hard, it is impossible to fail.