The growing complexity of science, technology, and organization does not imply either a growing knowledge or a growing need for read more

The growing complexity of science, technology, and organization does not imply either a growing knowledge or a growing need for knowledge in the general population. On the contrary, the increasingly complex processes tend to lead to increasingly simple and easily understood products. The genius of mass production is precisely in its making more products more accessible, both economically and intellectually to more people.

You read a book from beginning to end. You run a business the opposite way. You start with the end, read more

You read a book from beginning to end. You run a business the opposite way. You start with the end, and then you do everything you must to reach it.

When people go to work, they shouldn't have to leave their hearts at home.

When people go to work, they shouldn't have to leave their hearts at home.

Stressing output is the key to improving productivity, while looking to increase activity can result in just the opposite.

Stressing output is the key to improving productivity, while looking to increase activity can result in just the opposite.

Budgets are for cutting, that's why you set them.

Budgets are for cutting, that's why you set them.

...it is solely bigness in business which makes it possible to supply the masses with all those products the present-day read more

...it is solely bigness in business which makes it possible to supply the masses with all those products the present-day American common man does not want to do without. Luxury goods for the few can be produced in small shops. Luxury goods for the many require big business.

All mass movements avail themselves of action as a means of unification. The conflicts a mass movement seeks and incites read more

All mass movements avail themselves of action as a means of unification. The conflicts a mass movement seeks and incites serve not only to down its enemies but also to strip its followers of their distinct individuality and render them more soluble in the collective medium.

Sudden money is going from zero to two hundred dollars a week. The rest doesn't count.

Sudden money is going from zero to two hundred dollars a week. The rest doesn't count.

The rich adopt novelties and become accustomed to their use. This sets a fashion which others imitate. Once the richer read more

The rich adopt novelties and become accustomed to their use. This sets a fashion which others imitate. Once the richer classes have adopted a certain way of living, producers have an incentive to improve the methods of manufacture so that soon it is possible for the poorer classes to follow suit. Thus luxury furthers progress. Innovation "is the whim of an elite before it becomes a need of the public. The luxury today is the necessity of tomorrow." Luxury is the roadmaker of progress: it develops latent needs and makes people discontented. In so far as they think consistently, moralists who condemn luxury must recommend the comparatively desireless existence of the wild life roaming in the woods as the ultimate ideal of civilized life.