John Gokongwei Quotes

I just like doing things from my own head.

It is a poor wit who lives by borrowing the words, decisions, mien, inventions and actions of others.

Originality is independence, not rebellion; it is sincerity, not antagonism.

I am led by what I find to be true, not what I find to be popular.

I always took a great deal of pride in being original.

Students must have initiative; they should not be mere imitators. They must learn to think and act for themselves - and be free.

To the extent that independent means you're willing to attempt to put your own ideas, personality, and commitment to the material on screen, then of course I hope I'm independent until the day I die.

Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.

I always try to be a trend setter. That's what I always tell young people when I'm giving them advice. To go with their heart and don't follow the trends.

What another would have done as well as you, do not do it. What another would have said as well as you, do not say it; what another would have written as well, do not write it. Be faithful to that which exists nowhere but in yourself-and thus make yourself indispensable.

There was no one near to confuse me, so I was forced to become original.

The minute you succumb to outside pressure, you cease to be creative.

Work out of your work. Don't work out of anybody else's work.

I'm inspired by anyone who's honest in their own expression, people who truly beat to the rhythm of their own drum.

One should never write down or up to people, but out of yourself.

I'm a team player. But I will say that I've never been a 'yes man' in my life.

If you are going to have to play defense all the time, you cannot have the kind of ingenuity, assertiveness, independence, and intelligence which is what has made our country strong.

The merit of originality is not novelty; it is sincerity.

I never follow anybody's path, what they've done.

... encourage the free play of our people's genius for individual initiative.

You want to stake your own claim. You don't want to be called a copycat.

I'm an honest person and don't lead my life on other people's terms.

Trends are dangerous; you will fail if you design for them. You cannot follow the work of others. I have my own DNA, my own formula. I always stay true to myself and to the brand.

You've got to be able to think on your own; you've got to be creative. You can't be willing to take a backseat.

The way we do our architecture is to show that we can come up with our own solutions. We don't just take orders.