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Good is the enemy of great. That good is the enemy of great is not just a business problem. It is a human problem

— James C. Collins

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More quotes by James C. Collins

A culture of discipline is not a principle of business, it is a principle of greatness.

It is better to first get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats, and then figure out where to drive.

For no matter what we achieve, if we don't spend the vast majority of our time with people we love and respect, we cannot possibly have a great life.

Highlighted section cited in: Lisa Marshall (2004)

Those who built the visionary companies wisely understood that it is better to understand who you are than where you are going — for where you are going will almost certainly change

The most effective leaders of companies in transition are the quiet, unassuming people whose inner wiring is such that the worst circumstances bring out their best. They're unflappable, they're ready to die if they have to. But you can trust that, when bad things are happening, they will become clearheaded and focused.

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A business of high principle generates greater drive and effectiveness because people know that they can do the right thing decisively and with confidence.

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: James C. Collins (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.