118 Quotes by John W. Gardner

One man interacting creatively with others can move the world.

The man who once cursed his fate, now curses himself - and pays his psychoanalyst.

If the modern leader doesn't know the facts, he is in grave trouble, but rarely do the facts provide unqualified guidance.

We cannot have islands of excellence in a sea of slovenly indifference to standards.

One exemplary act may affect one life, or even millions of lives. All those who set standards for themselves, who strengthen the bonds of community, who do their work creditably and accept individual responsibility, are building the common future.

The individual who has become a stranger to himself has lost the capacity for genuine self-renewal.

We pay a heavy price for our fear of failure. It is a powerful obstacle to growth. It assures the progressive narrowing of the personality and prevents exploration and experimentation. There is no learning without some difficulty and fumbling. If you want to keep on learning, you must keep on risking failure-all your life.

Creativity requires the freedom to consider unthinkable alternatives, to doubt the worth of cherished practices.

When hiring key employees, there are only two qualities to look for: judgement and taste. Almost everything else can be bought by the yard.