James Cash Penney

"The greatest gift a mentor can give is not answers but the confidence to find them."

"The man who never made a mistake never tried anything new."

"Great businesses are built on great ideals, not just great profits."

"Pennies don't fall from heaven, they have to be earned right here on earth."

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal—it is the courage to continue that counts."

"I would rather lose money than lose the confidence of my customers."

"The customer is always right, but the merchant must always be honest."

"Wealth gained hastily will diminish, but he who gathers by labor will increase."

"Every clerk in my store knows that courtesy is not a luxury—it is a necessity."

"A merchant who does not advertise his goods is like a man who winks in the dark."

"The real measure of success is how many people you have lifted up while climbing."

"I have always tried to do right by my employees; they are my greatest asset."

"There is no substitute for honesty in business or in life."

"The Golden Rule is not just a religious concept; it's sound business practice."

"A penny saved is not just a penny earned—it's freedom earned."

"The store is not my life; my family is my life, and the store is how I support it."

"I never wanted to be wealthy—I wanted to be useful."

"Children learn more from what you do than from what you say."

"The best investment is in your own people and your own principles."

"A man's word is his bond, and a handshake should seal any deal."

"I believe that fair treatment and honest dealing will outlast any competitor."

"The store clerk who knows his customer's name has already won half the battle."

"Efficiency without purpose is merely busy work."

"I have learned more from failure than I ever learned from success."

"The man who is content with his lot will never advance beyond it."

"Service is not about giving discounts; it's about giving your best."

"A business that does not improve its practices will not survive."

"I trust my instincts, but I verify with facts."

"The strongest competition comes from within—your own complacency."

"A merchant's reputation is built one transaction at a time."