Henry Ford Quotes

Powerful Henry Ford for Daily Growth

About Henry Ford

Henry Ford (1863-1947), an American industrialist and entrepreneur, is best known as the founder of the Ford Motor Company and the pioneer of the assembly line technique of mass production. Born on July 30, 1863, in a rural township near Dearborn, Michigan, Henry was the eldest of six children. His father was a farmer with Irish ancestry, and his mother had German and English roots. At age 16, Ford left home to work as an apprentice machinist in Detroit. He showed early signs of inventive genius by constructing mechanical devices at a young age. In 1891, he returned to Dearborn to manage the family farm but was restless and soon moved back to Detroit to pursue his passion for machinery. In 1896, Ford built his first gasoline-powered vehicle, the Quadricycle, which marked the beginning of his automotive career. After founding the Detroit Automobile Company in 1899, he established the Ford Motor Company in 1903. However, the company struggled until 1908 when it introduced the Model T, an affordable and reliable car that revolutionized transportation. Ford's innovative production techniques, including the moving assembly line, drastically reduced the cost and time required to manufacture automobiles, making cars accessible to a much wider audience. This move not only made Ford a business magnate but also sparked economic growth in the United States. Known for his pithy quotes, Ford's wisdom extends beyond business and industry. He once said, "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." This sentiment reflects his strong will and belief in his own abilities. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, Ford's determination and innovative spirit led him to become one of the most influential figures in modern history. He passed away on April 7, 1947.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right."

This quote by Henry Ford emphasizes the power of one's mindset in determining outcomes. The statement suggests that believing in one's ability to accomplish a task (thinking "you can") leads to success, while doubting oneself (thinking "you can't") results in failure. Essentially, it posits that our beliefs shape our reality.


"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right."

This quote emphasizes the powerful role that belief systems play in our ability to achieve something. It suggests that if we believe we can accomplish a task, we are more likely to succeed because our belief propels us forward. Conversely, if we doubt ourselves, we may not even attempt the task or give up too easily. In essence, Henry Ford asserts that our mindset dictates our reality.


"Obstacles cannot crush me; every obstacle yields to stern resolve."

This quote by Henry Ford emphasizes resilience, determination, and unyielding spirit. It suggests that no matter how formidable the obstacles one encounters may be, they can be overcome if one maintains a strong will and unwavering resolve. The message is that challenges should not deter us from pursuing our goals; rather, we should confront them head-on with a steadfast mindset, knowing that every difficulty eventually gives way to tenacity and perseverance.


"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success."

This quote by Henry Ford emphasizes the importance of unity, collaboration, and persistence in achieving success. "Coming together" signifies the initial step towards a common goal or project. "Keeping together" highlights the need for ongoing cohesion to make progress, ensuring that each member remains committed and engaged. Lastly, "working together" indicates the critical action of joint effort that ultimately leads to accomplishment and success. The quote underscores the idea that unity, perseverance, and teamwork are essential ingredients for achieving any meaningful outcome or goal.


"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing."

Henry Ford's quote emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes, suggesting that making errors or wrong decisions isn't inherently harmful if they serve as opportunities for growth and development. By acknowledging, reflecting upon, and using these experiences to gain new insights, individuals can transform potential setbacks into valuable learning opportunities that help them grow and progress in life. In essence, he highlights the power of turning mistakes into stepping stones towards wisdom and success.


It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning.

- Henry Ford

Nation, Before, Monetary, Finance

Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.

- Henry Ford

Intelligence, More, Again, Failure

Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though sometimes it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and grieves which we endure help us in our marching onward.

- Henry Ford

Learning, Setbacks, Each One, Though

Capital punishment is as fundamentally wrong as a cure for crime as charity is wrong as a cure for poverty.

- Henry Ford

Charity, Punishment, Capital, Fundamentally

It is not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It is the customer who pays the wages.

- Henry Ford

Money, Wages, Employers, Handle

Any colour - so long as it's black.

- Henry Ford

Black, Long, Any, Colour

Money is like an arm or leg - use it or lose it.

- Henry Ford

Money, Like, Use, Leg

I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn't need any advice from me. With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about.

- Henry Ford

God, Advice, About, Work Out

When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.

- Henry Ford

Remember, Against, Going, Airplane

A market is never saturated with a good product, but it is very quickly saturated with a bad one.

- Henry Ford

Never, Market, Very, Saturated

We don't want tradition. We want to live in the present and the only history that is worth a tinker's dam is the history we make today.

- Henry Ford

Today, Want, Dam, Tinker

Don't find fault, find a remedy.

- Henry Ford

Leadership, Find, Fault, Remedy

Wealth, like happiness, is never attained when sought after directly. It comes as a by-product of providing a useful service.

- Henry Ford

Wealth, Like, By-Product, Directly

Competition is the keen cutting edge of business, always shaving away at costs.

- Henry Ford

Always, Costs, Keen, Shaving

If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.

- Henry Ford

Knowledge, Will, Your, Reserve

The only real security that a man can have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience and ability.

- Henry Ford

Knowledge, World, Security, Reserve

Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.

- Henry Ford

Intelligence, Reason, Which, Engage

Most people spend more time and energy going around problems than in trying to solve them.

- Henry Ford

Time, More, Going, Energy

Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait. The grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas.

- Henry Ford

Sparkle, Grip, Surge, Energy

One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do.

- Henry Ford

Fear, Find, His, Discoveries

A bore is a person who opens his mouth and puts his feats in it.

- Henry Ford

Mouth, Puts, His, Opens

If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.

- Henry Ford

Success, Everyone, Itself, Together

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.

- Henry Ford

Age, Mind, Young, Greatest Thing

Business is never so healthy as when, like a chicken, it must do a certain amount of scratching around for what it gets.

- Henry Ford

Business, Chicken, Amount, Scratching

Time and money spent in helping men to do more for themselves is far better than mere giving.

- Henry Ford

More, Helping, Spent, Time And Money

An idealist is a person who helps other people to be prosperous.

- Henry Ford

Person, Other, Helps, Idealist

Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success.

- Henry Ford

Before, Getting, Else, Everything Else

You will find men who want to be carried on the shoulders of others, who think that the world owes them a living. They don't seem to see that we must all lift together and pull together.

- Henry Ford

Think, Shoulders, Carried, Lift

As we advance in life we learn the limits of our abilities.

- Henry Ford

Life, Learn, Our, Limits

I do not believe a man can ever leave his business. He ought to think of it by day and dream of it by night.

- Henry Ford

Business, Night, Think, Ought

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