W. Edwards Deming Quotes

In a true zero-defects approach, there are no unimportant items.

Perfect score... it should never happen! There is always room for improvement.

It's impossible to have zero defects.

I've worked under a lot of managers, whether it's the national team or at St Mirren and everyone has their moments. I think it is important, you can't just let things pass if they are not good enough.

Nothing but disaster follows from applause.

The Veteran's Administration is a disaster, the V.A., it's a disaster.

We are all afraid. That's the thing that unites all truly successful people: fear, fear of failing, fear of criticism, fear of letting down the team in some way. That why they try so hard, that's why they pay attention to detail and try to get every possible duck in a row. It's fear

It really is appallingly difficult to do something which is complete in every respect, and I think most people are content with mere approximations. Well, my dear friend, I intend to battle on, scrape off and start again.

I cannot afford to make mistakes.

I can always see ways to improve what I've done. At the same time, knowing it's all an ongoing life's work allows me to be less precious about blind alleys, failed experiments, and misfires.

To copy is to invite disaster.

If anyone thinks my show was 'pretty good,' then I've completely failed.

Total freedom from error is what none of us will allow to our neighbors; however we may be inclined to flirt a little with such spotless perfection ourselves.

When I saw you fall..." "You thought, 'Wow, she's a loser.

You want to be extra rigorous about making the best possible thing you can. Find everything that's wrong with it and fix it.

The fact is, almost everything Hillary Clinton's done in foreign policy has been a mistake and it's been a disaster.

When I was a carpenter, I once worked with this Russian lady architect. I would tell her, ‘Look, I’m terribly sorry, but I want to change that a half inch,’ and she would say, ‘No limit for better.’ I think that is a worthy credo. You keep on going until you get it as close to being right as the time and patience of others will allow.

You can't get too high for somebody to bring you down.

The coach has turned into a pumpkin and the mice have all run away.

When you reach that kind of successful pinnacle, it is the nature of the business and the press and everything that they go about tearing you down.

Actually I never make a mistake, because it takes a huge effort for me to make a mistake.

It's just hard when you've spent so much time on something, writing and recording, laying the vocals, getting the hook right, getting the beat right, making everything sound right - you spent a freaking week trying to make it sound perfect, and someone comes along and shoots it down.

It's very noble of President Obama to want to stay at the helm and maybe go down with this sinking ship.

Calamitous collapse is better than mediocre defeat!

The Democratic Convention is $27 million in debt. They had to cancel the kick-off event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. A speedway is the perfect place for the Democratic Convention. You go around in circles, turn left every few seconds, and you end up right where you started.