Henry Ford Quotes: 80 Quotes on Teamwork, Success, Growth, Efficiency, and Overcoming Challenges

Henry Ford Quotes

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80 Quotes on Teamwork, Success, Growth, Efficiency, and Overcoming Challenges

Explore the wisdom of Henry Ford through inspiring quotes on teamwork, success, personal growth, industry efficiency, and the banking system. Let his words guide you to overcome challenges and achieve greatness.

Henry Ford was an American industrialist and founder of Ford Motor Company. He revolutionized transportation and American industry with the introduction of the Model T automobile in 1908, making automobiles affordable for the middle class. Ford's innovative assembly line technique of mass production played a significant role in the accessibility and affordability of vehicles, which profoundly impacted the 20th century.

Born on a farm in Michigan, Ford began working in Detroit at a young age. He gained experience with automobiles in the late 1880s and went on to repair and construct engines. After establishing Ford Motor Company in 1903, he faced earlier business failures but ultimately succeeded in constructing automobiles. As the sole owner of his company, Ford became one of the wealthiest individuals globally and was widely recognized for his contributions to industrialization.

Ford's commitment to lowering costs led to various technical and business innovations, including the franchise system that expanded dealerships across North America and major cities worldwide. He also advocated for consumerism as a means to achieve global peace. However, despite his success, Ford faced controversy due to his pacifism during World War I while his company became a significant arms supplier. He promoted the League of Nations but later expressed antisemitic views through his publications, tarnishing his reputation.

In his later years, Ford opposed US entry into World War II and briefly served on the America First Committee board. After control of his company was handed over to his grandson Henry Ford II due to declining health and decisions being made by subordinates, he passed away in 1947. Leaving most of his wealth to the Ford Foundation and control of the company to his family, Henry Ford left behind a lasting legacy as an influential figure in American industry and transportation innovation.

✵ 30. July 1863 – 7. April 1947

Henry Ford: 80 quotes 36 likes

Henry Ford Quotes

“Variant: If the American people knew the corruption in our money system there would be revolution before morning.”

Henry Ford

Attributed to Henry Ford by Charles Binderup (March 19, 1937), Congressional Record—House vol. 81, p. 2528. The quote is preceded by "It was Henry Ford who said, in substance, this," indicating that it was a paraphrase rather than an actual quote. Ford wrote at length in My Life and Work (1923) against the dominance of finance over industry, including a remark in Chapter XII, quoted above, which is very similar to the attributed statement.
Misattributed

Money , People

“Let them fail; let everybody fail! I made my fortune when I had nothing to start with, by myself and my own ideas. Let other people do the same thing. If I lose everything in the collapse of our financial structure, I will start in at the beginning and build it up again.”

Henry Ford

February 11, 1934; quoted in: Peter Collier, ‎David Horowitz (2001). The Fords: An American Epic. p. 108

People , Idea

“What we need is some financial engineers.”

Henry Ford

Saturday Evening Post, Feb. 11, 1936

“He draws upon his subconscious mind.”

Henry Ford

Thomas Edison, as quoted in The Living Age, Vol. 312 (1922), p. 742

Drawing

“The people are on the side of sound money. They are so unalterably on the side of sound money that it is a serious question how they would regard the system under which they live, if they once knew what the initiated can do with it.”

Henry Ford book My Life and Work

Source: My Life and Work (1922), p. 110. Chapter XII.

Money , People , Question

“History is bunk. What difference does it make how many times the ancient Greeks flew their kites?”

Henry Ford

History is Bunk, Says Henry Ford, Special to The New York Times, New York Times, October October 29, 1921. p. 1

Time , History , Making love

“The average successful banker is by no means so intelligent and resourceful a man as is the average successful business man. Yet the banker through his control of credit practically controls the average business man.”

Henry Ford book My Life and Work

Source: My Life and Work (1922), Chapter XII, Money - Master or Servant

Business , Intelligence , Success

“Bankers play far too great a part in the conduct of industry...”

Henry Ford book My Life and Work

Source: My Life and Work (1922), Chapter XII, Money - Master or Servant

Parting

“Failure is only the opportunity more intelligently to begin again. There is no disgrace in honest failure; there is disgrace in fearing to fail.”

Henry Ford book My Life and Work

Source: 1920s, My Life and Work (1922), pp. 19–20. Quoted in Samuel Crowther, "Henry Ford's Problem," The Magazine of Business, vol. 52 (1927), p. 182

Fear , Intelligence , Failure