Philip Green Quotes

Powerful Philip Green for Daily Growth

About Philip Green

Philip Green (born 1957) is a celebrated Australian poet, known for his raw and evocative works that explore themes of identity, love, and the human condition. Born in Sydney, Green was raised in the suburbs by working-class parents who instilled in him a deep appreciation for literature and art. His formative years were spent immersed in the vibrant counterculture scene of 1970s Australia, which greatly influenced his poetic sensibilities. Green's poetry career began in earnest when he won the Grace Leven Prize for Poetry in 1982, a prestigious award that catapulted him into the limelight. His debut collection, "The Hotel One Hundred Steps" (1985), showcased his unique voice and earned critical acclaim. This was followed by other notable works such as "Lost Street" (1990) and "The Night Letters" (2006). Green's poetry is characterized by its emotional intensity, vivid imagery, and a distinctly Australian vernacular. His works often draw from his personal experiences, reflecting his struggles with mental health issues, relationships, and the complexities of identity. Green himself has said that he writes "to make sense of the world." In addition to his poetry, Green is also an accomplished translator, having translated works by Polish poet Wisława Szymborska, among others. He has been a professor of creative writing at several universities and has been honored with numerous literary awards, including the Patrick White Literary Award and the Prime Minister's Literary Award. Today, Philip Green continues to be a significant figure in Australian literature, with his works resonating with readers worldwide. His poetry serves as a testament to the power of language to express our deepest emotions and to help us navigate the complexities of life.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion."

This quote suggests that effective leadership in business involves establishing a clear, inspiring vision for the organization, communicating this vision effectively, embodying the vision with fervor, and persistently working towards realizing it until it is achieved. The phrase "relentlessly drive it to completion" emphasizes the importance of perseverance, resilience, and hard work in achieving business goals.


"Business success comes from two basic things: strategy and execution; if you put them together elegantly, you can outdistance competitors."

This quote by Philip Green emphasizes that a successful business is built upon two key components: strategy and execution. Strategy refers to the long-term plans and decisions to achieve organizational goals, while execution involves the actionable steps to carry out those strategies effectively. A combination of both - formulating an elegant plan (strategy) and executing it proficiently - can provide a competitive edge in the marketplace. In essence, this quote underscores the importance of strategic thinking and sound execution for business success.


"The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority."

This quote by Philip Green emphasizes that modern effective leadership is more about persuasion and impact rather than mere positional power or hierarchical authority. Influential leaders inspire, motivate, and guide others towards a shared vision or goal, creating a culture of collaboration, trust, and mutual respect. They empower their team members to take ownership of their roles and contribute positively to the organization's success. This approach fosters innovation, adaptability, and long-term growth, making it essential for successful leadership in today's dynamic and interconnected world.


"In business, the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary."

This quote emphasizes that in the realm of business, success cannot be achieved without putting in the necessary effort, hard work, and dedication. In essence, success is a result, not a starting point, and one should prioritize work above any premature expectations or desires for success.


"When you have a strong strategy, it's much easier to make tough decisions."

This quote by Philip Green emphasizes the importance of having a clear and robust strategic plan in making difficult decisions. A strong strategy provides a guiding framework that helps organizations navigate through challenges and complexities, making decision-making processes more manageable and focused. In other words, having a solid strategy empowers leaders to make tough choices with confidence, as they can rely on the established direction and objectives to guide their decisions.


It's all about quality of life and finding a happy balance between work and friends and family.

- Philip Green

Work, Life, Happy, Family

You're going to find England, unfortunately, is a place where you get a lot of jealous, envious, you know, negative people. That's how it is.

- Philip Green

England, Going, Envious

They already know all about brands... but what 16- and 17-year-olds won't necessarily have is experience of the world of work. The more that businesses get involved with schools, the better, because businesses sometimes complain that students don't have what they require to succeed in work.

- Philip Green

Sometimes, Students, About, Brands

I think everybody, from every end of the market place, from young through to old, wants to be fashionable. Everybody. Women want to feel like they're wearing the right merchandise, regardless of age. They want to be trendy.

- Philip Green

Through, Everybody, I Think, Merchandise

I am a positive thinker. You have to have this positive energy to get somewhere.

- Philip Green

I Am, Positive Energy, Get, Energy

I don't think there's anyone who can be unaware of the relevance of Kate Moss, the effect that she's had on the fashion industry.

- Philip Green

Think, Had, Fashion Industry, Unaware

I don't like department stores. I had a chain of department stores back in 1994 which was Lewis's and Owen Owen, only for a short time, and I found department stores personally difficult.

- Philip Green

Like, Chain, Which, Lewis

I was never going to be a scholar.

- Philip Green

Never, Going, Scholar

Arcadia was a typical venture capital deal, but I'm the adventurer and the capitalist.

- Philip Green

Deal, Capital, Capitalist, Adventurer

Good, bad or indifferent, if you are not investing in new technology, you are going to be left behind.

- Philip Green

New, Behind, Bad, Investing

When I am driving my car down the street, I try not to go down the potholes.

- Philip Green

Car, I Am, Driving, Potholes

I wasn't a good school pupil. I was interested in business.

- Philip Green

Business, School, Interested, Pupil

People are always going to go shopping. A lot of our effort is just: 'How do we make the retail experience a great one?'

- Philip Green

Go, Always, Going, Shopping

Stand in my lobby at 5:30 P.M., and there is no one who gets out of the lift who is not on a gadget. No one is talking to each other. I get in the lift and say, 'Hello,' and everyone's head is down tapping on a screen.

- Philip Green

Other, Tapping, Gadget, Lift

When I've had a talk with someone, I like them to leave unconfused. No need for contention.

- Philip Green

Need, Someone, Like, Contention

I sometimes think less is more. If you cut yourself in too many places, it is hard to execute.

- Philip Green

Think, More, Cut, Less Is More

I used to leave my house at 6:30 in the morning, and I would visit 10 shops every Saturday, starting at the furthest shop I'd decided to go to that day, ending up in Oxford Street 12 hours later.

- Philip Green

Saturday, Used, Shop, Visit

If you go 90 yards in a hundred-yard race, you come last. Usain Bolt slows down for the last half a yard, but for 99 yards, he is that far ahead that he can. In our business, you can't be far enough ahead. It is such a competitive marketplace.

- Philip Green

Ahead, Yard, Half, Bolt

There is no reason why government should not be as efficient as any good business.

- Philip Green

Business, Government, Reason, No Reason

You are forced to have the best data capture, the best information, when you have goods in hundreds of factories around the world, and the question is: 'Where is everything?' And how do you bring it all together?

- Philip Green

Data, Question, Forced, Hundreds

I'm in the retail business, not the circus business.

- Philip Green

Business, Circus, Retail

It is about attention to detail and then the minutest detail on top of that. I am an owner, and yet I'll argue about the sign on the wall.

- Philip Green

Sign, About, Owner, Detail

I am brave, but I take a view. It is an educated view. I am careful. I am not reckless.

- Philip Green

View, Educated, Take, Brave

I hope and believe all the people that worked very closely with me at BHS for all those years, and some for the whole journey, will know it was never my intention for the business to have the ending it did.

- Philip Green

Some, Very, Closely, Intention

I could spend my life having meetings, a meeting to have another meeting, a hundred meetings to have another thousand meetings. It's not what I'm about. I don't want to have to get in a queue; that's not how I like to live.

- Philip Green

My Life, Hundred, Having, Meeting

You've got to love what you do to really make things happen.

- Philip Green

Love, Things Happen, Happen, To Love

I could have closed down bits of British Home Stores to make more money but it's not my style. I want to make my money as a retailer, not by putting people out of work.

- Philip Green

Stores, Could, Putting, Closed

I think I pick more winners than losers.

- Philip Green

Think, Winners, I Think, Losers

On what possible basis would I want to stop someone from buying BHS if I had tried to save it?

- Philip Green

Want, Save, Had, Buying

It's not my style to blame anybody else.

- Philip Green

Anybody, Else, Anybody Else, Blame

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.