100 Best Bold Ray Kroc Quotes That Built the McDonald’s Empire
Ray Kroc didn’t invent the hamburger, but he perfected the system that turned McDonald’s into a global phenomenon.
With a background in sales and an unrelenting focus on consistency, branding, and scale, Kroc turned a small chain into one of the most recognizable businesses in the world.
These Ray Kroc quotes reveal the bold thinking, persistence, and sharp instincts behind that explosive growth.
Whether you’re launching a startup or expanding your reach, his words are packed with the kind of straight-shooting advice that cuts through the noise and gets results.
Top Ray Kroc Quotes
Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get.
If you work just for money, you’ll never make it, but if you love what you’re doing and you always put the customer first, success will be yours.
The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.
The two most important requirements for major success are: first, being in the right place at the right time, and second, doing something about it.
If you’re not a risk taker, you should get the hell out of business.
It’s easy to have principles when you’re rich. The important thing is to have principles when you’re poor.
You’re only as good as the people you hire.
I was an overnight success all right, but 30 years is a long, long night.
I believe in God, family, and McDonald’s. And in the office, that order is reversed.
While formal schooling is an important advantage, it is not a guarantee of success nor is its absence a fatal handicap.
I don’t believe in saturation. We’re thinking and talking worldwide.
I didn’t invent the hamburger. I just took it more seriously than anyone else.
We take the hamburger business more seriously than anyone else.
Achievement must be made against the possibility of failure, against the risk of defeat. It is no achievement to walk a tightrope laid flat on the floor.
Creativity is a highfalutin word for the work I have to do between now and Tuesday.
You must perfect every fundamental of your business if you expect it to perform well.
The definition of salesmanship is the gentle art of letting the customer have it your way.
If I had a brick for every time I’ve repeated the phrase Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value, I think I’d probably be able to bridge the Atlantic Ocean with them.
No self-respecting pitcher throws the same way to every batter, and no self-respecting salesman makes the same pitch to every client.
When you’re green, you’re growing. When you’re ripe, you rot.
Fast Food Revolution Quotes
Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get. ~ Ray Kroc
If you work just for money, you’ll never make it, but if you love what you’re doing and you always put the customer first, success will be yours. ~ Ray Kroc
The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves. ~ Ray Kroc
The two most important requirements for major success are: first, being in the right place at the right time, and second, doing something about it. ~ Ray Kroc
If you’re not a risk taker, you should get the hell out of business. ~ Ray Kroc
It’s easy to have principles when you’re rich. The important thing is to have principles when you’re poor. ~ Ray Kroc
You’re only as good as the people you hire. ~ Ray Kroc
I was an overnight success all right, but 30 years is a long, long night. ~ Ray Kroc
I believe in God, family, and McDonald’s. And in the office, that order is reversed. ~ Ray Kroc
While formal schooling is an important advantage, it is not a guarantee of success nor is its absence a fatal handicap. ~ Ray Kroc
I don’t believe in saturation. We’re thinking and talking worldwide. ~ Ray Kroc
I didn’t invent the hamburger. I just took it more seriously than anyone else. ~ Ray Kroc
We take the hamburger business more seriously than anyone else. ~ Ray Kroc
Achievement must be made against the possibility of failure, against the risk of defeat. It is no achievement to walk a tightrope laid flat on the floor. ~ Ray Kroc
Creativity is a highfalutin word for the work I have to do between now and Tuesday. ~ Ray Kroc
You must perfect every fundamental of your business if you expect it to perform well. ~ Ray Kroc
The definition of salesmanship is the gentle art of letting the customer have it your way. ~ Ray Kroc
If I had a brick for every time I’ve repeated the phrase Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value, I think I’d probably be able to bridge the Atlantic Ocean with them. ~ Ray Kroc
No self-respecting pitcher throws the same way to every batter, and no self-respecting salesman makes the same pitch to every client. ~ Ray Kroc
When you’re green, you’re growing. When you’re ripe, you rot. ~ Ray Kroc
Franchise Business Quotes
In business for yourself, but not by yourself. ~ Ray Kroc
We provide opportunity. We provide the facilities, the equipment, the training, and the products. But the individual must supply something as well – dedication to the job and the desire to excel. ~ Ray Kroc
None of us is as good as all of us. ~ Ray Kroc
The McDonald’s system is a simple one. It requires a lot of common sense, dedication to the business, and a willingness to devote long hours to it. ~ Ray Kroc
The success of additions and new products depends on how well they meet the needs of customers, not on how much the company would like to sell them. ~ Ray Kroc
If they’re going to eat out, it’s my job to make sure they come to McDonald’s. ~ Ray Kroc
McDonald’s is a people business, and that smile on that counter girl’s face when she takes your order is a vital part of our image. ~ Ray Kroc
We’re not in the hamburger business. We’re in show business. ~ Ray Kroc
Look after the customer and the business will take care of itself. ~ Ray Kroc
If you’ve got time to lean, you’ve got time to clean. ~ Ray Kroc
The more I help others to succeed, the more I succeed. ~ Ray Kroc
It requires a certain kind of mind to see beauty in a hamburger bun. ~ Ray Kroc
Our aim, of course, is to give our customers the very best food possible at the lowest possible prices. ~ Ray Kroc
We have found out that we cannot trust some people who are nonconformists. We will make conformists out of them in a hurry… The organization cannot trust the individual; the individual must trust the organization. ~ Ray Kroc
I put the hamburger on the assembly line. ~ Ray Kroc
There’s almost nothing you can’t accomplish if you set your mind to it. ~ Ray Kroc
I was 52 years old. I had diabetes and incipient arthritis. I had lost my gall bladder and most of my thyroid gland in earlier campaigns, but I was convinced the best was ahead of me. ~ Ray Kroc
I like to get people fired up, fill them with zeal for McDonald’s, and watch the results in their work. ~ Ray Kroc
I’ve never considered myself a great brand. I’m just a good businessman. ~ Ray Kroc
I figured that if I was going to live with the name McDonald’s, I’d better be in control. ~ Ray Kroc
Business Standards Quotes
The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves. ~ Ray Kroc
You must perfect every fundamental of your business if you expect it to perform well. ~ Ray Kroc
If I had a brick for every time I’ve repeated the phrase Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value, I think I’d probably be able to bridge the Atlantic Ocean with them. ~ Ray Kroc
We provide opportunity. We provide the facilities, the equipment, the training, and the products. But the individual must supply something as well – dedication to the job and the desire to excel. ~ Ray Kroc
The McDonald’s system is a simple one. It requires a lot of common sense, dedication to the business, and a willingness to devote long hours to it. ~ Ray Kroc
Look after the customer and the business will take care of itself. ~ Ray Kroc
If you’ve got time to lean, you’ve got time to clean. ~ Ray Kroc
Our aim, of course, is to give our customers the very best food possible at the lowest possible prices. ~ Ray Kroc
We have found out that we cannot trust some people who are nonconformists. We will make conformists out of them in a hurry… The organization cannot trust the individual; the individual must trust the organization. ~ Ray Kroc
I like to get people fired up, fill them with zeal for McDonald’s, and watch the results in their work. ~ Ray Kroc
It requires a certain kind of mind to see beauty in a hamburger bun. ~ Ray Kroc
McDonald’s is a people business, and that smile on that counter girl’s face when she takes your order is a vital part of our image. ~ Ray Kroc
We’re not in the hamburger business. We’re in show business. ~ Ray Kroc
The success of additions and new products depends on how well they meet the needs of customers, not on how much the company would like to sell them. ~ Ray Kroc
If they’re going to eat out, it’s my job to make sure they come to McDonald’s. ~ Ray Kroc
None of us is as good as all of us. ~ Ray Kroc
In business for yourself, but not by yourself. ~ Ray Kroc
The more I help others to succeed, the more I succeed. ~ Ray Kroc
I put the hamburger on the assembly line. ~ Ray Kroc
I’ve never considered myself a great brand. I’m just a good businessman. ~ Ray Kroc
Entrepreneurial Drive Quotes
Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get. ~ Ray Kroc
If you work just for money, you’ll never make it, but if you love what you’re doing and you always put the customer first, success will be yours. ~ Ray Kroc
The two most important requirements for major success are: first, being in the right place at the right time, and second, doing something about it. ~ Ray Kroc
If you’re not a risk taker, you should get the hell out of business. ~ Ray Kroc
It’s easy to have principles when you’re rich. The important thing is to have principles when you’re poor. ~ Ray Kroc
You’re only as good as the people you hire. ~ Ray Kroc
I was an overnight success all right, but 30 years is a long, long night. ~ Ray Kroc
While formal schooling is an important advantage, it is not a guarantee of success nor is its absence a fatal handicap. ~ Ray Kroc
I don’t believe in saturation. We’re thinking and talking worldwide. ~ Ray Kroc
I didn’t invent the hamburger. I just took it more seriously than anyone else. ~ Ray Kroc
Achievement must be made against the possibility of failure, against the risk of defeat. It is no achievement to walk a tightrope laid flat on the floor. ~ Ray Kroc
Creativity is a highfalutin word for the work I have to do between now and Tuesday. ~ Ray Kroc
The definition of salesmanship is the gentle art of letting the customer have it your way. ~ Ray Kroc
No self-respecting pitcher throws the same way to every batter, and no self-respecting salesman makes the same pitch to every client. ~ Ray Kroc
When you’re green, you’re growing. When you’re ripe, you rot. ~ Ray Kroc
There’s almost nothing you can’t accomplish if you set your mind to it. ~ Ray Kroc
I was 52 years old. I had diabetes and incipient arthritis. I had lost my gall bladder and most of my thyroid gland in earlier campaigns, but I was convinced the best was ahead of me. ~ Ray Kroc
I figured that if I was going to live with the name McDonald’s, I’d better be in control. ~ Ray Kroc
I believe in God, family, and McDonald’s. And in the office, that order is reversed. ~ Ray Kroc
We take the hamburger business more seriously than anyone else. ~ Ray Kroc
Restaurant Management Quotes
If you’ve got time to lean, you’ve got time to clean. ~ Ray Kroc
Look after the customer and the business will take care of itself. ~ Ray Kroc
McDonald’s is a people business, and that smile on that counter girl’s face when she takes your order is a vital part of our image. ~ Ray Kroc
We’re not in the hamburger business. We’re in show business. ~ Ray Kroc
Our aim, of course, is to give our customers the very best food possible at the lowest possible prices. ~ Ray Kroc
It requires a certain kind of mind to see beauty in a hamburger bun. ~ Ray Kroc
I put the hamburger on the assembly line. ~ Ray Kroc
The success of additions and new products depends on how well they meet the needs of customers, not on how much the company would like to sell them. ~ Ray Kroc
If they’re going to eat out, it’s my job to make sure they come to McDonald’s. ~ Ray Kroc
The McDonald’s system is a simple one. It requires a lot of common sense, dedication to the business, and a willingness to devote long hours to it. ~ Ray Kroc
We provide opportunity. We provide the facilities, the equipment, the training, and the products. But the individual must supply something as well – dedication to the job and the desire to excel. ~ Ray Kroc
None of us is as good as all of us. ~ Ray Kroc
In business for yourself, but not by yourself. ~ Ray Kroc
The more I help others to succeed, the more I succeed. ~ Ray Kroc
We have found out that we cannot trust some people who are nonconformists. We will make conformists out of them in a hurry… The organization cannot trust the individual; the individual must trust the organization. ~ Ray Kroc
I like to get people fired up, fill them with zeal for McDonald’s, and watch the results in their work. ~ Ray Kroc
I’ve never considered myself a great brand. I’m just a good businessman. ~ Ray Kroc
If I had a brick for every time I’ve repeated the phrase Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value, I think I’d probably be able to bridge the Atlantic Ocean with them. ~ Ray Kroc
You must perfect every fundamental of your business if you expect it to perform well. ~ Ray Kroc
The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves. ~ Ray Kroc
