Affirmative Quotes

“By pursuing his own interest (the individual) promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good.” ~ Adam Smith (Wealth of Nations [a lot of his work influenced the founding fathers])

“History suggests that capitalism is a necessary condition for… freedom.” Our past experiences (history) show us for liberty, freedom, and justice to exist in an obtainable way.” ~Milton Friedman (American Economist, b.1912)

“Capitalism needs to function like a game of tug-of-war. Two opposing sides need to continually struggle for dominance, but at no time can either side be permitted to walk away with the rope.” ~ Pete Holiday

“If capitalism persists for several more centuries, as seems to be highly likely, then from the vantage point of the future, capitalism may be seen as the system responsible for the transformation of the human condition from one of mass subsistence to mass prosperity.” ~Victor D. Lippit (From his book Capitalism)

“One of the consequences of such notions as "entitlements" is that people who have contributed nothing to society feel that society owes them something, apparently just for being nice enough to grace us with their presence.” ~Thomas Sowell quotes (American Writer and Economist, b.1930)

“Education would be so much more effective if its purpose were to ensure that by the time they leave school every boy and girl should know how much they don't know, and be imbued with a lifelong desire to know it.” ~Sir William Haley

“I don't like to be second in anything.” ~ Michael Phelps

“I want to test my maximum and see how much I can do. And I want to change the world of swimming.” ~ Michael Phelps

“The power of the human will to compete and the drive to excel beyond the body's normal capabilities is most beautifully demonstrated in the arena of sport.” ~ Aimee Mullins

“Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best; it removes all that is base. All men are afraid in battle. The coward is the one who lets his fear overcome his sense of duty. Duty is the essence of manhood.” ~ General George S. Patton (American General in World War I and II, 1885-1945)

“A good athlete always mentally replays a competition over and over, even in victory, to see what might be done to improve the performance the next time.” ~Frank Shorter (born October 31, 1947 is an American distance runner and winner of the marathon race at the 1972 Summer Olympics)

“A variety of factors contribute to the price of gasoline in the United States. These factors include worldwide supply, demand and competition for crude oil, taxes, regional differences in access to gasoline supplies and environmental regulations.” ~Gary Miller (a congressman for the state of California)

“A merchant who approaches business with the idea of serving the public well has nothing to fear from the competition.” ~James Cash Penney (the founder of the J.C. penny company)

“Activity in politics also produces eager competition and sharp rivalry.” ~John George Nicolay (born February 26, 1832, as Johann Georg in Essingen/Pfalz, Rhineland-Palatinate – September 26, 1901 was an American (German-born) biographer and secretary of Abraham Lincoln)

“Also, there are authors and publicists using the Internet to manipulate opinion, both positively for a work and negatively against the competition. I don't do this and can't stomach it, honestly.” ~R. A. Salvatore (author)

“Advertising as the printed form of selling would seem... ultimately to be justified in so far as it serves as a means of increasing legitimate human wants, as an agency of fair and economic competition in the distribution of goods, and as a stimulant to social progress.” ~Daniel Starch

“After the Great Depression and after public urging, a nationwide public competition was held to determine a design for a memorial that would honor President Thomas Jefferson's bold vision for westward expansion for America.” ~Russ Carnahan

“Competition is the whetstone of talent.” ~Traditional Proverb

“When you want to win a game, you have to teach. When you lose a game, you have to learn.” ~Tom Landry (author)

“Live daringly, boldly, fearlessly. Taste the relish to be found in competition -- in having put forth the best within you.” Henry J. Kaiser (author)

“A competitor will find a way to win. Competitors take bad breaks and use them to drive themselves just that much harder. Quitters take bad breaks and use them as reasons to give up. It's all a matter of pride.” ~ Nancy Lopez

“Competition is the keen cutting edge of business, always shaving away at costs” ~Henry Ford (American industrialist and pioneer of the assembly-line production method, 1863-1947)

“Competition is not only the basis of protection to the consumer, but is the incentive to progress.” ~ Herbert Hoover (American President, 1874-1964)

“You can't just beat a team, you have to leave a lasting impression in their minds so they never want to see you again” ~ Mia Hamm (American female Soccer Player. b.1972)

“The essence of competitiveness is liberated when we make people believe that what they think and do is important - and then get out of their way while they do it.” ~Jack Welch

“Competition creates better products, alliances create better companies.” ~ Brian Graham

“Competition is easier to accept if you realize it is not an act of oppression or abrasion - I've worked with my best friends in direct competition” ~ Diane Sawyer (American news anchor, Reporter and Journalist, b.1945)

“A good athlete always mentally replays a competition over and over, even in victory, to see what might be done to improve the performance the next time.” ~ Frank Shorter

“The healthiest competition occurs when average people win by putting above average effort.” ~Colin Powell

“I have always loved the competitive forces in this business. You know I certainly have meetings where I spur people on by saying, "Hey, we can do better than this. How come we are not out ahead on that?" That’s what keeps my job one of the most interesting in the world.” ~Bill Gates

“Competition is always a fantastic thing, and the computer industry is intensely competitive. Whether it's Google or Apple or free software, we've got some fantastic competitors and it keeps us on our toes.” ~Bill Gates

“If you're a competitive person, that stays with you. You don't stop. You always look over your shoulder.” ~Magic Johnson

“I just feel that my competitive drive is far greater than anyone else that I’ve met, and I think that I thrive on that.” ~Michael Jordan

“Bill Maher and I are on against each other, and we're friends. He can do my show any time he wants, and I've done Politically Incorrect several times. There's no reason to think competition has to be adversarial.” ~Jay Leno

“A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.” ~Emo Phillips

“On the outside, Yahoo is a fun and irreverent place, but on the inside we are extremely competitive.” ~Jerry Yang