I motivate what I see in young people because we employ about forty thousand young people in our various Chick-fil-A units. Some of them come to work because they need to work; others just work because they just like to work. There's nothing wrong with that.

S. Truett Cathy

Nearly every moment of every day we have the opportunity to give something to someone else—our time, our love, our resources. I have always found more joy in giving when I did not expect anything in return.

S. Truett Cathy

opportunity joy giving

How do you identify someone who needs encouragement? That person is breathing.

S. Truett Cathy

encouraging breathing encouragement

We must motivate ourselves to do our very best, and by our example lead others to do their best as well.

S. Truett Cathy

wells example

I’d like to be remembered as one who kept my priorities in the right order. We live in a changing world, but we need to be reminded that the important things have not changed, and the important things will not change if we keep our priorities in proper order.

S. Truett Cathy

imperfect-world change inspirational

Each person's destiny is not a matter of chance; it's a matter of choice. It's determined by what we say, what we do, and whom we trust.

S. Truett Cathy

destiny choices matter

Food is Essential to life, therefore make it good.

S. Truett Cathy

essentials

I believe no amount of business school training or work experience can teach what is ultimately a matter of personal character. Businesses are not dishonest or greedy, people are. Thus, a business, successful or not, is merely a reflection of the character of its leadership.

S. Truett Cathy

character believe school

If you're excited about what you're doing, it's a lot more likely that your employees will also be excited. People want to work for a person, not a company. It's about relationships.

S. Truett Cathy

excited want people

Sometimes success is disguised as hard work.

S. Truett Cathy

hard hard-work sometimes

If we get better our customers will demand we get bigger.

S. Truett Cathy

demand get-better bigger

If you wish to enrich days, plant flowers; If you wish to enrich years, plant trees; If you wish to enrich Eternity, plant ideals in the lives of others.

S. Truett Cathy

flower tree years

Nearly every moment of every day we have the opportunity to give something to someone else.

S. Truett Cathy

moments opportunity giving

You have to be very careful about what you say. More importantly, you have to be very careful about what you do. You never know how or when you influence people – especially children.

S. Truett Cathy

influence children people

How do you know if someone needs encouragement? If they are breathing!

S. Truett Cathy

breathing encouragement needs

Learn to love your work and you'll never have to 'work' again.

S. Truett Cathy

love-your-work love-you

Opportunity presents itself sometimes in unusual situations. What you think is the worst thing turns out to be a good thing. Different circumstances challenge people to do things they didn't know they could do, and in those times when the outlook appears the worst, we find new reasons for optimism.

S. Truett Cathy

optimism opportunity thinking

The one thing I take more joy in than anything else in the world is seeing young people develop

S. Truett Cathy

joy people world

It's better to build boys than mend men.

S. Truett Cathy

men boys

Whatever you do... put your heart and soul into it!

S. Truett Cathy

composing soul heart

In most cases we perform better when we're busy than when we're not busy. When we're slow, our mind wanders. We're not as attentive to our business. When we're on the firing line, we're sharper. We move more quickly and get the job done right.

S. Truett Cathy

mind jobs moving