I determined absolutely that never would I join a company…
““I determined absolutely that never would I join a company in which finance came before the work or in which bankers or financiers had a part. And further that, if there were no way to get started in the kind of business that I thought could be managed in the interest of the public, then I simply would not get started at all. For my own short experience, together with what I saw going on around me, was quite enough proof that business as a mere money-making game was not worth giving much thought to and was distinctly no place for a man who wanted to accomplish anything. Also it did not seem to me to be the way to make money. I have yet to have it demonstrated that it is the way. For the only foundation of real business is service.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
True business should prioritize serving people over profit; profit follows when service is genuine.
In simple terms: Serve first, profit follows.
Key Takeaway
Focus on serving customers.
Themes
service
ethics
business philosophy
leadership
Mood
reflective
hopeful
pragmatic
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- entrepreneurship
- management
- product development
- community service
Key Concepts
customer centricity
social responsibility
purpose-driven enterprise
Questions to Reflect On
- How can modern companies balance profit and service?
- What examples show service-led success?
A Different Perspective
Profit motives can corrupt purpose.