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William Feather
26 quotes
“He was known to some people as a writer. In his writings he espoused thrift, industry, promptness, perseverance, and dependability. … As far as was possible, the subject of this sketch practiced what he preached. Some of his enemies point to this trait as his foremost weakness.”
William Feather (1889–1981) first seen 1933 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Obituary written for himself as one "that would be satisfactory to me in the event of an undesired, but possible, exit" in October 1933, as quoted in "Featherisms" by Ted Landphair at VOA News (6 October 2008)
“An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't. It's knowing where to go to find out what you need to know, and it's knowing how to use the information once you get it.”
William Feather (1889–1981) first seen 1956 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The first two sentences of this statement first appear as attributed to France in the 1990s, but the full statement is earlier attributed to William Feather, as quoted in Telephony, Vol. 150 (1956), p. 23
Also quoted by: Anatole France (misattributed)
“The petty economies of the rich are just as amazing as the silly extravagances of the poor.”
William Feather (1889–1981) first seen 1966 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in The Successful Toastmaster: A Treasure Chest of Introductions, Epigrams, Humor, and Quotations (1966) by Herbert Victor Prochnow, p. 466
“Beware of the man who won't be bothered with details.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Good Advice (1993), edited by William Safire and Leonard Safir, p. 215
“Anyone who can think clearly can write clearly. But neither is easy.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The way to get things done is to have a good assistant.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Every job has two salaries. One is the pay you get. The other is the mental satisfaction you derive from working for the company.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Flattery must be pretty thick before anybody objects to it.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If you do not have the capacity for happiness with a little money, great wealth will not bring it to you.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Many people are thwarted by excessive ambition. They want a hundred thousand dollars but are unwilling to save a hundred dollars. They want a big house, but do not accumulate enough money to make the down payment on on a small house. They want to write a book, but will not learn to write a letter. Most men become successful and famous, not through ambition, but through ability and character.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Uneasy lies the head that ignores a telephone call late at night.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In closing a deal, what you don’t say may be more helpful than what you do say.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Setting a good example for children takes all the fun out of middle age.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Also quoted in Every Day Is Father's Day: The Best Things Ever Said About Dear Old Dad (1989), p. 150
“When the gardeners are praying for rain, the picnickers are praying for sunshine. So what is the poor Lord to do?”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A good time is seldom had by all.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A single fact will often spoil an interesting argument.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Many of us are dull, but not as dull as the grandchildren think we are.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The kindness lavished on dogs, if evenly distributed, would establish peace on earth.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The most difficult jobs look easy until you try to do them.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Experts never seem to tell us what we’re up against until we’re up against it.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Let’s not have any more wars to end all war.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A tinfoil wrapper doesn’t make a bum cigar taste any better.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The trouble with a man who takes his time is that he takes your time, too.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A clear conscience doesn’t mean anything if you haven’t any conscience.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Nothing makes us so sleepy as the bell of our alarm clock.”
William Feather (1889–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I like business because it is competitive. Business keeps books. The books are the score cards. Profit is the measure of accomplishment, not the ideal measure, but the most practical that can be devised. I like business because it compels earnestness. Amateurs and dilettantes are shoved out. Once in you must fight for survival or be carried to the sidelines. I like business because it requires courage. Cowards do not get to first base. I like business because It demands faith. Faith in human nature, faith in one's self, faith in one's customers, faith in one's employees. I like business because it is the essence of life. Dreams are good, poetical fancies are good, but bread must be baked today, trains must move today, bills must be collected today, payrolls met today. Business feeds, clothes and houses man. I like business because it rewards deeds and not words. I like business because it does not neglect today's task while it is thinking about tomorrow. I like business because it undertakes to please, not to reform. I like business because it is orderly. I like business because it is bold in enterprise. I like business because it is honestly selfish, thereby avoiding the hypocrisy and sentimentality of the unselfish attitude. I like business because it is promptly penalized for its mistakes, shiftlessness and inefficiency. I like business because its philosophy works. I like business because each day is a fresh, adventure.”
William Feather (1889–1981) first seen 1927 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Why I Like Business" in Manitowoc Herald-Times (21 July 1927), p. 3