Advertisements Quote by David Ogilvy
“Never write an advertisement which you wouldn't want your own family to read. You wouldn't tell lies to your own wife. Don't tell them to mine. Do as you would be done by. If you tell lies about a product, you will be found out - either by the Government, which will prosecute you, or by the consumer, who will punish you by not buying your product a second time. Good products can be sold by honest advertising. If you don't think the product is good, you have no business to be advertising it.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Confessions of an Advertising Man, 1963
Honest advertising builds trust; deception leads to legal trouble or loss of customers.
In simple terms: Truthful ads protect reputation.
Key Takeaway
Advertise only what you truly believe.
Themes
honesty
trust
advertising
ethics
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
ethical
professional
When to use this quote
- product launch
- marketing campaign
- brand building
Key Concepts
consumer protection
reputation management
Questions to Reflect On
- Are you promoting products you truly trust?
- How would you handle a dishonest ad?
A Different Perspective
Deception may seem profitable short‑term but damages long‑term credibility.
![“There's a fantastic, thousand-page book by David Thomson about [David O. Selznick]. Again, it's not the best argument or the best advertisement for his story, because most people aren't going to read a thousand-page book. But I feel like the rise and fall and the work [Mayer] produced - not just…” quote by Karina Longworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/282/karina-longworth-26763_advertisements_there-s-a-fantastic-thousand-page-book-b_13508.jpg)
