Advantage comes not from the spectacular or the technical. Advantage comes from a persistent seeking of the mundane edge.

Books were rare,expensive, time-consuming to create and copy, and difficult to transport. That is why collections ofprint-based books developed around centers of religious belief, learning, and wealth. It was cheaper andeasier for people to come to the collection than for the collection, or parts of the collection, to go to thepeople.

If future competitiveness depends on treating people as an important part of the institution, the least respectful thing I can imagine doing to a human being is asking him to urinate in a cup.

Train everyone lavishly. You can't overspend on training.

The common wisdom is that ... managers have to learn to motivate people. Nonsense. Employees bring their own motivation.

I think economics is about passion. Economic progress, whether it is a two-person coffee shop or whether it is Netscape, is about people with brave ideas. Because it is brave to mortgage the house, when you've got two kids, to start a coffee shop.

The day firing becomes easy is the day to fire yourself.