“Visions of McDonald’s restaurants dotting crossroads all over the country paraded through my brain. I don’t believe in saturation. We’re thinking and talking worldwide.”

The two most important requirements for major success are: first, being in the right place at the right time, and second, doing something about it.

You must perfect every fundamental of your business if you expect it to perform well.

McDonald’s is a people business, and that smile on that counter girl’s face when she takes your order is a vital part of our image.

The key to success is being in the right place at the right time, recognizing that you are there, and taking action!

The first dollar is the most you will get if you don’t love what you are doing.

Take calculated risks. Act boldly and thoughtfully. Be an agile company.

There is absolutely nothing special about walking on a rope stretched along the ground. Where there is no risk, there can be no pride in a deed accomplished, and therefore no happiness.

The more I help others to succeed, the more I succeed.

Are you green and growing or ripe and rotting?

Speaking of competition in the fast-food industry. This is rat eat rat, dog eat dog. I’ll kill ’em, and I’m going to kill ’em before they kill me.

I saw opportunity appear in an ugly six-spindle shake machine … and grabbed it.

The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.

Adversity can strengthen you if you have the will to grind it out.

If you believe in it, and you believe in it hard, it is impossible to fail.

Our aim was to insure repeat business based on the system’s reputation rather than on the quality of a single store or operator.

I suffer with you. I’ve never seen such stupid ballplaying in all my life!