--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have never known a concern to make a…" description: "\"I have never known a concern to make a decided success that did not do good, honest work, and even in these days of fiercest competition, when everythi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/andrew-carnegie-2115_attention_i-have-never-known-a-concern-to-make-a-d_1953862.jpg" --- # I have never known a concern to make a decided success… ![“I have never known a concern to make a decided success that did not do good, honest work, and even in these days of fiercest competition, when everything would seem to be a matter of price, there lies still at the root of great business success the very much more important factor of quality. The…” quote by Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/andrew-carnegie-2115_attention_i-have-never-known-a-concern-to-make-a-d_1953862.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/andrew-carnegie-2115_attention_i-have-never-known-a-concern-to-make-a-d_1953862.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/andrew-carnegie-2115_attention_i-have-never-known-a-concern-to-make-a-d_1953862.jpg) > “I have never known a concern to make a decided success that did not do good, honest work, and even in these days of fiercest competition, when everything would seem to be a matter of price, there lies still at the root of great business success the very much more important factor of quality. The effect of attention to quality, upon every man in the service, from the president of the concern down to the humblest laborer, cannot be overestimated.” [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Quality work and honesty are the foundation of lasting business success, outweighing price competition and influencing every employee. **In simple terms:** Quality and honesty drive success more than price. Key Takeaway Prioritize quality in all work. Themes integrity quality leadership business success Mood respectful inspirational thoughtful Type advice philosophical motivational When to use this quote - manufacturing - service industry - startup growth - team management Key Concepts ethical business practices organizational culture employee motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders embed quality culture daily? - What trade‑offs exist between price and quality? A Different Perspective Quality alone cannot compensate for poor market fit or innovation deficits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Business success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-success/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Competition Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition-matter-1222875/) [Concern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concern/) [Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Every man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-man/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Factors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/factors/) [Great business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-business/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honest work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-work/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Laborers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laborers/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Quality Effect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality-effect-1058288/) [Quality Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality-man-1406283/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-important-250807/) [These days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/these-days/) ## Related quotes > [The fault of bad taste is usually in over-dressing. Quality not effect, is the standard to seek for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/the-fault-of-bad-taste-is-usually-in-over-dressing-quality-not-effect/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [“that Quality was the effect of subjects and objects. It was not! He brought out his knife. “The sun of quality,” he wrote, “does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/that-quality-was-the-effect-of-subjects-and-objects-it-was-not-he/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Strategy is about setting yourself apart from the competition. It's not a matter of being better at what you do - it's a matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/strategy-is-about-setting-yourself-apart-from-the-competition-it-s/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [The problem with Myspace was always that it was never as strong a product as it needed to be. It left itself vulnerable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-birch/the-problem-with-myspace-was-always-that-it-was-never-as-strong-a/) [Michael Birch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-birch/) > [I love the competition no matter at what age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kidd/i-love-the-competition-no-matter-at-what-age/) [Jason Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kidd/) > [No person will make a great business who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/no-person-will-make-a-great-business-who-wants-to-do-it-all-himself/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [“Cluelessness is not an attractive quality in a man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/cluelessness-is-not-an-attractive-quality-in-a-man/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) > [If you want to meet a better quality man, you're going to have to get used to taking more risks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-hussey/if-you-want-to-meet-a-better-quality-man-you-re-going-to-have-to-get/) [Matthew Hussey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-hussey/) > [The quality of a man's life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-landry/the-quality-of-a-man-s-life-is-in-direct-proportion-to-his-commitment/) [Tom Landry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-landry/) > [I would say that the quality of each man's life is the full measure of that man's commitment of excellence and victory - whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/i-would-say-that-the-quality-of-each-man-s-life-is-the-full-measure/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [I used to say I wanted somebody funny and intelligent, but kindness is the most important quality in a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/i-used-to-say-i-wanted-somebody-funny-and-intelligent-but-kindness-is/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [Insecurity isn't an attractive quality in a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/insecurity-isn-t-an-attractive-quality-in-a-man/) [Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) > [A sense of humour is the only divine quality of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/a-sense-of-humour-is-the-only-divine-quality-of-man/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [I think women look for that quality in a man of being a good dad whether they're immediately wanting to be a parent or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-vancamp/i-think-women-look-for-that-quality-in-a-man-of-being-a-good-dad/) [Emily VanCamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-vancamp/) > [“Most important quality in the man of your dreams? No, my dears, it isn’t great hair. Or even killer abs. In my book, it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inglath-cooper/most-important-quality-in-the-man-of-your-dreams-no-my-dears-it-isn-t/) [Inglath Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inglath-cooper/) ## More by Andrew Carnegie > [Immense power is acquired by assuring yourself in your secret reveries that you were born to control affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/immense-power-is-acquired-by-assuring-yourself-in-your-secret/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [Strong men don't compromise, it is said, and principles should never be compromised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/strong-men-don-t-compromise-it-is-said-and-principles-should-never-be/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [The battle of life is already half won by the young man who is brought in contact with high officials; and the great aim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/the-battle-of-life-is-already-half-won-by-the-young-man-who-is/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [Be king in your dreams. Make your vow that you will reach that position, with untarnished reputation, and make no other vow to distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/be-king-in-your-dreams-make-your-vow-that-you-will-reach-that/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [“ You cannot push anyone up a ladder unless he is willing to climb a little. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/you-cannot-push-anyone-up-a-ladder-unless-he-is-willing-to-climb-a/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [“A man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may take possession of anything else to which he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/a-man-who-acquires-the-ability-to-take-full-possession-of-his-own/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [The secret of happiness is renunciation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/the-secret-of-happiness-is-renunciation/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [Give me the life of the boy whose mother is nurse, seamstress, washerwoman, cook, teacher, angel, and saint, all in one, and whose father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/give-me-the-life-of-the-boy-whose-mother-is-nurse-seamstress/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [Wealth is not to feed our egos but to feed the hungry and to help people help themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/wealth-is-not-to-feed-our-egos-but-to-feed-the-hungry-and-to-help/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [You cannot push anyone up the ladder unless he is willing to climb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/you-cannot-push-anyone-up-the-ladder-unless-he-is-willing-to-climb/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [The more difficult a problem becomes, the more interesting it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/the-more-difficult-a-problem-becomes-the-more-interesting-it-is/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/teamwork-is-the-ability-to-work-together-toward-a-common-vision-the/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [The Republic may not give wealth or happiness, she has not promised these. It is the freedom to pursue these, not their realization, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/the-republic-may-not-give-wealth-or-happiness-she-has-not-promised/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [The price which society pays for the law of competition, like the price it pays for cheap comforts and luxuries, is great; but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/the-price-which-society-pays-for-the-law-of-competition-like-the/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [The problem of our age is the proper administration of wealth, so that the ties of brotherhood may still bind together the rich and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/the-problem-of-our-age-is-the-proper-administration-of-wealth-so-that/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) [Explore all 184 Andrew Carnegie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have never known a concern to make a decided success that did not do good, honest work, and even in these days of fiercest competition, when everything would seem to be a matter of price, there lies still at the root of great business success the very much more important factor of quality. The effect of attention to quality, upon every man in the service, from the president of the concern down to the humblest laborer, cannot be overestimated.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andrew Carnegie" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/i-have-never-known-a-concern-to-make-a-decided-success-that-did-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attention" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/i-have-never-known-a-concern-to-make-a-decided-success-that-did-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/andrew-carnegie-2115_attention_i-have-never-known-a-concern-to-make-a-d_1953862.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/andrew-carnegie-2115_attention_i-have-never-known-a-concern-to-make-a-d_1953862.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/andrew-carnegie-2115_attention_i-have-never-known-a-concern-to-make-a-d_1953862.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have never known a concern to make a decided success that did not do good, honest work, and even in these…” — Andrew Carnegie", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Andrew Carnegie", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have never known a concern...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/i-have-never-known-a-concern-to-make-a-decided-success-that-did-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/i-have-never-known-a-concern-to-make-a-decided-success-that-did-not/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```