Achievement must be made against the possibility of failure, against the risk of defeat. It is no achievement to walk a tightrope laid flat on the floor. Where there is no risk, there can be no pride in achievement and, consequently, no happiness. The only way we can advance is by going forward, individually and collectively, in the spirit of the pioneer. We must take the risks involved in our free enterprise system. This is the only way in the world to economic freedom. There is no other way.

I like to get people fired up, fill them with zeal for McDonald's, and watch the results in their work.

No self-respecting pitcher throws the same way to every batter and no self-respecting salesman makes the same pitch to every client.

If you have time to lean, you have time to clean.

There are things money can't buy and hard work can't win. One of them is happiness.

If I had a brick for every time I’ve repeated the phrase Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value, I think I’d probably be able to bridge the Atlantic Ocean with them.

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