Thomas J. Watson Quotations

Thomas J. Watson

All the problems of the world could be settled easily if men were only willing to think. The trouble is that men very often resort to all sorts of devices in order not to think, because thinking is such hard work.

A manager is an assistant to his men.

Design must reflect the practical and aesthetic in business but above all... good design must primarily serve people.

If you aren't playing well, the game isn't as much fun. When that happens I tell myself just to go out and play as I did when I was a kid.

If you stand up and be counted, from time to time you may get yourself knocked down. But remember this: A man flattened by an opponent can get up again. A man flattened by conformity stays down for good.

If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work.

Recently, I was asked if I was going to fire an employee who made a mistake that cost the company $600,000. No, I replied, I just spent $600,000 training him. Why would I want somebody to hire his experience?

The great accomplishments of man have resulted from the transmission of ideas of enthusiasm.

There is no saturation point in education.

The way to succeed is to double your error rate.

Whenever an individual or a business decides that success has been attained, progress stops.

You don't hear things that are bad about your company unless you ask. It is easy to hear good tidings, but you have to scratch to get the bad news.