--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the Wright brother were alive today…" description: "\"If the Wright brother were alive today Wilbur would have to fire Orville to reduce costs.\" — Herb Kelleher" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/herb-kelleher-8657_air-travel_if-the-wright-brother-were-alive-today-w_24022.png" --- # If the Wright brother were alive today Wilbur would have… ![“If the Wright brother were alive today Wilbur would have to fire Orville to reduce costs.” quote by Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/herb-kelleher-8657_air-travel_if-the-wright-brother-were-alive-today-w_24022.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/herb-kelleher-8657_air-travel_if-the-wright-brother-were-alive-today-w_24022.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/herb-kelleher-8657_air-travel_if-the-wright-brother-were-alive-today-w_24022.png) > “If the Wright brother were alive today Wilbur would have to fire Orville to reduce costs.” [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The joke highlights that modern business pressures would force even founders to make hard, cost‑cutting decisions, underscoring the relentless drive for efficiency. **In simple terms:** Efficiency can override legacy ties. Key Takeaway Cost pressures can force painful cuts. Themes efficiency business pressure founder dynamics cost reduction modernization Mood wry critical reflective Type humorous analytical When to use this quote - startup scaling - family business - legacy companies - tech industry - corporate restructuring Key Concepts organizational economics leadership decisions Practical Applications - strategic cost cutting - leadership training Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance heritage with profitability? - When is it justified to let go of a founding member? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air-travel/) [Airline business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/airline-business/) [Airline food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/airline-food/) [Airline industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/airline-industry/) [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Aviation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aviation/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) [Live for today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-for-today/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [If the employees come first, then they're happy. A motivated employee treats the customer well. The customer is happy so they keep coming back,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/if-the-employees-come-first-then-they-re-happy-a-motivated-employee/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [Airline food is not intended for human consumption. It's intended as a form of in-flight entertainment, wherein the object is to guess what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/airline-food-is-not-intended-for-human-consumption-it-s-intended-as-a/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Airline food is cooked in an oven and then kept warm. Space station food is often cooked in an oven and then thermo-stabilised, irradiated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/airline-food-is-cooked-in-an-oven-and-then-kept-warm-space-station/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [If you don't like airline food, you'll probably have the same impression of space station food. I would not fly to space for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/if-you-don-t-like-airline-food-you-ll-probably-have-the-same/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [Speaking of food, English cuisine has received a lot of unfair criticism over the years, but the truth is that it can be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/speaking-of-food-english-cuisine-has-received-a-lot-of-unfair/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [You don't have to be Willy Loman about it. But, "Airline food is crazy. Hey, what's with these rent-a-cars?" or you go up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/you-don-t-have-to-be-willy-loman-about-it-but-airline-food-is-crazy/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“It is a challenge to believe that there was ever a time that airline food was exciting, when stewardesses were happy to see you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/it-is-a-challenge-to-believe-that-there-was-ever-a-time-that-airline/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [I support the Affordable Care Act and believe we should take steps to further expand coverage and reduce costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/i-support-the-affordable-care-act-and-believe-we-should-take-steps-to/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [ \[Airline food\] is the tiniest food I've ever seen in my entire life. Any kind of meat that you get - chicken, steak, anything… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/airline-food-is-the-tiniest-food-i-ve-ever-seen-in-my-entire-life-any/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [England manufactures most of the world's airline food, as well as all the food you ever ate in your junior-high-school cafeteria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/england-manufactures-most-of-the-world-s-airline-food-as-well-as-all/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [I'm not opposed to talking about airline food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-m-not-opposed-to-talking-about-airline-food/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [“The first involves streamlining operations and introducing cost innovations from manufacturing to distribution. Can the product’s or service’s raw materials be replaced by unconventional,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-chan-kim/the-first-involves-streamlining-operations-and-introducing-cost/) [W. Chan Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-chan-kim/) > [While we very much regret the impact this will have on certain employees, we must adjust our production capacity to the reality of current…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-galvin/while-we-very-much-regret-the-impact-this-will-have-on-certain/) [Christopher Galvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-galvin/) > [To ensure that America remains the leader in medical innovation, we must reduce the costs of developing life-saving drugs and ensure that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/to-ensure-that-america-remains-the-leader-in-medical-innovation-we/) [Cathy McMorris Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/) > [I dont enjoy traveling in America. I dont like the food, the cars. It is not exotic enough. It all tastes a bit like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-bley/i-dont-enjoy-traveling-in-america-i-dont-like-the-food-the-cars-it-is/) [Carla Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-bley/) ## More by Herb Kelleher > [You have to treat your employees like your customers. When you treat them right they will treat your outside customers right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/you-have-to-treat-your-employees-like-your-customers-when-you-treat/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [Power should be reserved for weightlifting and boats, and leadership really involves responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/power-should-be-reserved-for-weightlifting-and-boats-and-leadership/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [As far as value is concerned, the principal reason that I moved to Texas from New Jersey many, many years ago was because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/as-far-as-value-is-concerned-the-principal-reason-that-i-moved-to/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [Sometimes you need a little courage too just to buck popular opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/sometimes-you-need-a-little-courage-too-just-to-buck-popular-opinion/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [I want to see Texas remain an entrepreneurial powerhouse in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/i-want-to-see-texas-remain-an-entrepreneurial-powerhouse-in-the/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [You can't have a mid-life crisis in the airline industry because every day is a crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/you-can-t-have-a-mid-life-crisis-in-the-airline-industry-because/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [Keep costs low and spirits high, and the people of Southwest Airlines will keep LUV in the air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/keep-costs-low-and-spirits-high-and-the-people-of-southwest-airlines/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [A company is stronger if it is bound by love rather than by fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/a-company-is-stronger-if-it-is-bound-by-love-rather-than-by-fear/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [The people of Southwest have always been my pride, my joy and my love. Their indomitable dedication and esprit de corps have taken Southwest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/the-people-of-southwest-have-always-been-my-pride-my-joy-and-my-love/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [A motivated employee treats the customer well. The customer is happy, so they keep coming back. It's not one of the enduring green mysteries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/a-motivated-employee-treats-the-customer-well-the-customer-is-happy/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [Hire for attitude, train for skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/hire-for-attitude-train-for-skill/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [We have the best customer satisfaction record, based on Transportation Dept. statistics, of any airline in America, the fewest complaints filed per 100,000 passengers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/we-have-the-best-customer-satisfaction-record-based-on-transportation/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [Think small and act small, and we'll get bigger. Think big and act big, and we'll get smaller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/think-small-and-act-small-and-we-ll-get-bigger-think-big-and-act-big/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [I've found that many of the greatest ideas surface in bars because that's where many people cultivate inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/i-ve-found-that-many-of-the-greatest-ideas-surface-in-bars-because/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [Wild Turkey whiskey and Philip Morris cigarettes are essential to the maintenance of human life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/wild-turkey-whiskey-and-philip-morris-cigarettes-are-essential-to-the/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) [Explore all 79 Herb Kelleher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) ## More Air travel quotes > [There's another problem," Percy said. "I'm not good with air travel. It's dangerous for a son of Neptune." "You'll have to risk it...and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/there-s-another-problem-percy-said-i-m-not-good-with-air-travel-it-s/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I don't mind flying. I always pass out before the plane leaves the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-campbell/i-don-t-mind-flying-i-always-pass-out-before-the-plane-leaves-the/) [Naomi Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-campbell/) > [Funny, isn't it? The airlines go to all that trouble to keep you from taking a gun on board, then they just hand you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/funny-isn-t-it-the-airlines-go-to-all-that-trouble-to-keep-you-from/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [There are only two reasons to sit in the back row of an airplane: Either you have diarrhea, or you're anxious to meet people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/there-are-only-two-reasons-to-sit-in-the-back-row-of-an-airplane/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Despite living in this post-9/11 age of transnational terrorism, the risk of death during air travel has plummeted to the point where we now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-p-m-barnett/despite-living-in-this-post-9-11-age-of-transnational-terrorism-the/) [Thomas P.M. Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-p-m-barnett/) > [Airline food is not intended for human consumption. It's intended as a form of in-flight entertainment, wherein the object is to guess what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/airline-food-is-not-intended-for-human-consumption-it-s-intended-as-a/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [The glamour of air travel - its aspirational meaning in the public imagination - disappeared before its luxury did, dissipating as flying gradually became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/the-glamour-of-air-travel-its-aspirational-meaning-in-the-public/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [The captain has just turned on the fasten-seat-belt-sign. He didn't mean to, but the joint he was smoking fell in his lap, and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-captain-has-just-turned-on-the-fasten-seat-belt-sign-he-didn-t/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [My Christmas present to myself each year is to see how much air travel can open up the world and take me to places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/my-christmas-present-to-myself-each-year-is-to-see-how-much-air/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [A century ago the Spanish flu confounded scientists and devastated whole regions, but while today's society has air travel and an enormous, heterogeneous population,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-fry/a-century-ago-the-spanish-flu-confounded-scientists-and-devastated/) [Hannah Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-fry/) > [Air travel efficiency would improve if more travelers started going to less popular places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/air-travel-efficiency-would-improve-if-more-travelers-started-going/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [We have long had emigration in Ireland. But the nature of emigration has changed. With ferries to Britain and the continent, as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/we-have-long-had-emigration-in-ireland-but-the-nature-of-emigration/) [Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/) > [Sailboats are the slowest form of transportation on Earth with the possible exeption of airline flights that go through O'Hare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/sailboats-are-the-slowest-form-of-transportation-on-earth-with-the/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [There is no reason why we shouldn't be able to split an infinitive, any more than we should forsake instant coffee and air travel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/there-is-no-reason-why-we-shouldn-t-be-able-to-split-an-infinitive/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [The European Union spends most of its time either suing me, torturing me, criticizing me or condemning me for lowering the cost of air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-leary/the-european-union-spends-most-of-its-time-either-suing-me-torturing/) [Michael O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-leary/) [Browse all 107 Air travel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air-travel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the Wright brother were alive today Wilbur would have to fire Orville to reduce costs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herb Kelleher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/if-the-wright-brother-were-alive-today-wilbur-would-have-to-fire/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Air travel" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/if-the-wright-brother-were-alive-today-wilbur-would-have-to-fire/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/herb-kelleher-8657_air-travel_if-the-wright-brother-were-alive-today-w_24022.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/herb-kelleher-8657_air-travel_if-the-wright-brother-were-alive-today-w_24022.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/herb-kelleher-8657_air-travel_if-the-wright-brother-were-alive-today-w_24022.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If the Wright brother were alive today Wilbur would have to fire Orville to reduce costs.” — Herb Kelleher", "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": "Herb Kelleher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If the Wright brother were alive...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/if-the-wright-brother-were-alive-today-wilbur-would-have-to-fire/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/if-the-wright-brother-were-alive-today-wilbur-would-have-to-fire/#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 } } ] } ```