Sam Walton

I've always been a hard worker.

I believe in giving back to the community.

I've always been a country boy at heart.

I like to get out and talk to our associates.

I'm a big believer in common sense.

I think it's important to have a good sense of humor.

I've always been an early riser.

I like to keep things simple.

I've always been a frugal person.

I think it's important to stay hungry.

I pay low wages. I can take advantage of that. We're going to be successful, but the basis is a very low-wage, low-benefit model of employment.

unions have developed in this country, they have mostly just been divisive. They have put management on one side of the fence, employees on the other, and themselves in the middle as almost a separate business, one that depends on division between the other two camps.

I have always believed strongly that we don't need unions at Wal-Mart.

And divisiveness, by breaking down direct communication makes it harder to take care of customers, to be competitive, and to gain market share.

I'll fire anyone who cashes the check.

When a clerk gets so good she can get better wages elsewhere, let her go...

We must have cheap help or we cannot sell cheap goods.

No matter how you slice it in the retail business, payroll is one of the most crucial things you have to fight to maintain your profit margin. That was true then, and it is still true today.

I do admit to worrying sometimes about future generations of the Waltons. I know it's unrealistic of me to expect them all to get up and throw paper routes, and I know it's something I can't control.

I have a little yellow Dodge convertible I drive in parades. I bought it for $1,900 from some guy who advertised in the paper.