---
title: "1 Continuous improvement Quotes By W. Edwards Deming"
description: "1 Continuous improvement quotes by W. Edwards Deming. Plus more from W. Edwards Deming and more Continuous improvement sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/w-edwards-deming-1337_achieve_a-person-and-an-organization-must-have-g_2626630.jpg"
---

> [...a person and an organization must have goals, take actions to achieve those goals, gather evidence of achievement, study and reflect on the data and from that take actions again. Thus, they are in a continuous feedback spiral toward continuous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/a-person-and-an-organization-must-have-goals-take-actions-to-achieve/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/w-edwards-deming-1337_achieve_a-person-and-an-organization-must-have-g_2626630.jpg)

## More by W. Edwards Deming

> [Absence of defects does not necessarily build business... Something more is required.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/absence-of-defects-does-not-necessarily-build-business-something-more/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [In Japan, a company worker's position is secure. He is retrained for another job if his present job is eliminated by productivity improvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/in-japan-a-company-worker-s-position-is-secure-he-is-retrained-for/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [We are here to make another world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/we-are-here-to-make-another-world/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [It is a mistake to assume that if everybody does his job, it will be all right. The whole system may be in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/it-is-a-mistake-to-assume-that-if-everybody-does-his-job-it-will-be/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [Innovation comes from the producer - not from the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/innovation-comes-from-the-producer-not-from-the-customer/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [The only useful function of a statistician is to make predictions, and thus to provide a basis for action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/the-only-useful-function-of-a-statistician-is-to-make-predictions-and/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [A leader is a coach, not a judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/a-leader-is-a-coach-not-a-judge/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [It does not happen all at once. There is no instant pudding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/it-does-not-happen-all-at-once-there-is-no-instant-pudding/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [Sub-optimization is when everyone is for himself. Optimization is when everyone is working to help the company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/sub-optimization-is-when-everyone-is-for-himself-optimization-is-when/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [We know what we told him, but we don't know what he heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/we-know-what-we-told-him-but-we-don-t-know-what-he-heard/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [Rational behavior requires theory. Reactive behavior requires only reflex action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/rational-behavior-requires-theory-reactive-behavior-requires-only/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [A manager of people needs to understand that all people are different. This is not ranking people. He needs to understand that the performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/a-manager-of-people-needs-to-understand-that-all-people-are-different/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [“It is not enough to just do your best or work hard; You must know what to work on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/it-is-not-enough-to-just-do-your-best-or-work-hard-you-must-know-what/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [You have to manage a system. The system doesn't manage itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/you-have-to-manage-a-system-the-system-doesn-t-manage-itself/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [Two basic rules of life are: 1) Change is inevitable. 2) Everybody resists change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/two-basic-rules-of-life-are-1-change-is-inevitable-2-everybody/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

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