Business Quote by David Packard
“Why are we here? I think many people assume, wrongly, that a company exists solely to make money. Money is an important part of a company's existence, if the company is any good. But a result is not a cause. We have to go deeper and find the real reason for our being.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Stanford University Commencement, 1970
Companies should pursue purpose beyond profit, seeking deeper meaning and societal contribution.
In simple terms: Business needs purpose beyond money.
Key Takeaway
Align profit with purpose.
Themes
purpose
ethics
business
leadership
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- startup founding
- corporate strategy
- social entrepreneurship
- company culture
Key Concepts
Corporate responsibility
meaningful work
Questions to Reflect On
- What deeper purpose drives your work?
- How can profit serve a greater good?
A Different Perspective
Balancing profit and purpose can be challenging.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)