37 Famous Lee Iacocca Quotes (EXECUTIVE)

Updated onDecember 1, 2023

Top 10 Most Famous Lee Iacocca Quotes (BEST)

In times of great stress or adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive. — In times of great stress or adversity, it’s always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.

Get all the education you can, but then by God, do something. Don’t just stand there, make it happen. — Get all the education you can, but then by God, do something. Don’t just stand there, make it happen.

In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something else.

The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works, is the family. — The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works, is the family.

In the end, all business operations can be reduced to three words: people, product and profits. Unless you’ve got a good team, you can’t do much with the other two. — In the end, all business operations can be reduced to three words: people, product and profits. Unless you’ve got a good team, you can’t do much with the other two.

We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluable problems.

You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can't get them across, your ideas won't get you anywhere. — You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t get them across, your ideas won’t get you anywhere.

The speed of the boss is the speed of the team.

My father always used to say that when you die, if you've got five real friends, then you've had a great life. — My father always used to say that when you die, if you’ve got five real friends, then you’ve had a great life.

Management is nothing more than motivating other people.

14 Lee Iacocca Quotes on Business and Management

“I have always found that if I move with seventy-five percent or more of the facts that I usually never regret it. It’s the guys who wait to have everything perfect that drive you crazy.”
Lee Iacocca

I hire people brighter than me and then I get out of their way.

Any supervisor worth his salt would rather deal with people who attempt too much than with those who try too little.

Start with good people, lay out the rules, communicate with your employees, motivate them and reward them. If you do all those things effectively, you can't miss. — Start with good people, lay out the rules, communicate with your employees, motivate them and reward them. If you do all those things effectively, you can’t miss.

There is no substitute for accurate knowledge. Know yourself, know your business, know your men. — There is no substitute for accurate knowledge. Know yourself, know your business, know your men.

People want economy and they will pay any price to get it.

Decisiveness is the one word that makes a good manager. — Decisiveness is the one word that makes a good manager.

“The kind of people I look for to fill top management spots are the eager beavers, the mavericks. These are the guys who try to do more than they’re expected to do – they always reach.”
Lee Iacocca

There are times when even the best manager is like the little boy with the big dog, waiting to see where the dog wants to go so he can take him there.

The most successful businessman is the man who holds onto the old just as long as it is good, and grabs the new just as soon as it is better. — The most successful businessman is the man who holds onto the old just as long as it is good, and grabs the new just as soon as it is better.

I forgot to shake hands and be friendly. It was an important lesson about leadership. — I forgot to shake hands and be friendly. It was an important lesson about leadership.

When the product is right, you don't have to be a great marketer. — When the product is right, you don’t have to be a great marketer.

Every business and every product has risks. You can't get around it. — Every business and every product has risks. You can’t get around it.

I have found that being honest is the best technique I can use. Right up front, tell people what you're trying to accomplish and what you're willing to sacrifice to accomplish it. — I have found that being honest is the best technique I can use. Right up front, tell people what you’re trying to accomplish and what you’re willing to sacrifice to accomplish it.

13 Inspirational Lee Iacocca Quotes About Life

The discipline of writing something down is the first step toward making it happen. — The discipline of writing something down is the first step toward making it happen.

No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished? — No matter what you’ve done for yourself or for humanity, if you can’t look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished?

The ability to concentrate and to use time well is everything. — The ability to concentrate and to use time well is everything.

If you want to make good use of your time, you've got to know what's most important and then give it all you've got. — If you want to make good use of your time, you’ve got to know what’s most important and then give it all you’ve got.

The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. — The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.

Trouble shared is trouble halved.

Setbacks are a natural part of life, and you’ve got to be careful how you respond to them.

Motivation is everything. You can do the work of two people, but you can't be two people. Instead, you have to inspire the next guy down the line and get him to inspire his people. — Motivation is everything. You can do the work of two people, but you can’t be two people. Instead, you have to inspire the next guy down the line and get him to inspire his people.

What is wrong with changing your mind because the facts changed? But you have to be able to say why you changed your mind and how the facts changed. — What is wrong with changing your mind because the facts changed? But you have to be able to say why you changed your mind and how the facts changed.

We've got to pause and ask ourselves How much clean air do we need? — We’ve got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?

You can go a long way with some integrity.

It's a good thing God doesn't let you look a year or two into the future, or you might be sorely tempted to shoot yourself. — It’s a good thing God doesn’t let you look a year or two into the future, or you might be sorely tempted to shoot yourself.

If a guy is over 25 percent jerk, he's in trouble. And Henry [Ford] was 95 percent. — If a guy is over 25 percent jerk, he’s in trouble. And Henry [Ford] was 95 percent.

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(MUST READ) Iacocca: An Autobiography

Iacocca: An Autobiography — Iacocca: An Autobiography

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Famous Lee Iacocca Quotes (EXECUTIVE) - Gracious Quotes

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Overcoming depression and suicidal thoughts, Jeremiah Say found solace in quotes. After filling countless pages with resonating words, he moved his collection online to save trees and inspire others. Thus, GraciousQuotes.com was born. Jeremiah firmly believes in the power of quotes to swiftly spark inspiration during hard times. His blog is dedicated to uplifting others through these shared wisdoms. Discover more about Gracious Quotes or get in touch with Jeremiah.