Mastery is great, but even that is not enough. You have to be able to change course without a bead of sweat, or remorse.

Quality involves living the message of the possibility of perfection and infinite improvement, living it day in and day out, decade by decade.

Who comes first? Don't be silly, says King Hal; it's employees. That is - and this dear Watson, is elementary - if you genuinely want to put customers first, you must put employees more first.

Power lies in the details, and the tenacious pursuit of such hidden levers can pay off enormously. While you don't want to get a reputation as a prissy worrywart, worrying about the details in private is important. You may think you are the world's greatest speaker, but if the auditorium's sound system is singing static - well, forget it.

Success requires a persistent misreading of the odds.

The best leaders... almost without exception and at every level, are master users of stories and symbols.

I think economics, content, and the ability to interact with content in new and different ways are what will drive the adoption of e-books.