Quotes By James Cash Penney

Men are not great or small because of their material possessions. They are great or small because of what they are.

Salesmanship, too, is an art; the perfection of its technique requires study and practice.

Theory is splendid but until put into practice, it is valueless.

I cannot remember a time when the Golden Rule was not my motto and precept, the torch that guided my footsteps.

I was long brought up to think that it was nothing short of a crime to miss a sale.

Clock watchers never seem to be having a good time.

The art of effective listening is essential to clear communication, and clear communication is necessary to management success.

A merchant who approaches business with the idea of serving the public well has nothing to fear from the competition.

The men who have furnished me with my greatest inspiration have not been men of wealth, but men of deeds.

There has never been a time when a career in the Penney Company was not a challenge that brought out the best in a man.

Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.

A store's best advertisement is the service its goods render, for upon such service rest the future, the good-will, of an organization.

The thought in my mind was that I must be a good merchant. If I were a good merchant, the rest would probably take care of itself.

I do not believe in excuses. I believe in hard work as the prime solvent of life's problems.

Luck is always the last refuge of laziness and incompetence.

No matter what his position or experience in life, there is in everyone more latent than developed ability; far more unused than used power.

No business can succeed in any great degree without being properly organized.

We get real results only in proportion to the real values we give.

The problem with the bronco is to get on and stay on. This is the problem with the Golden Rule-to understand and apply.

It is always the start that requires the greatest effort.

Salesmanship is limitless. Our very living is selling. We are all salespeople.

I never trust an executive who tends to pass the buck. Nor would I want to deal with him as a customer or a supplier.