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David Ogilvy Quotes

26 Inspiring David Ogilvy Quotes That Give You Business And Advertising Lessons

Famous As: Founder of Ogilvy & Mather

Born On: 1911

Died On: 1999

Born In: West Horsley, Surrey, England

Died At Age: 88

David Ogilvy was a renowned businessman and advertisement magnate who is considered to be the ‘Father of Advertising’. During the early days of his career he worked as a door-to-door salesman for a pressure cooker manufacturer. He excelled there and was told to write an instruction manual for his colleagues. This manual was later acknowledged by the ‘Fortune Magazine’ as ‘the finest sales instruction manual ever written’. This helped him get a job as an accounting executive for a reputed advertising agency. He then went on to start his own advertising agency supported by his friends. The initial days witnessed some struggle but gradually the company got many renowned clients like ‘General Foods’ and ‘American Express’. His most notable advertising campaign was for ‘Dove Soap’ which escalated the company to become a top-seller. Ogilvy was very ambitious and in order to globalize his company he merged with Marther & Crather to form Ogilvy & Marther. He further led the company to become successful on a global scale. His book ‘Confessions of an Advertising Man’ is believed to be his best work and is said to work as a bible for the people of the advertising industry. Here is a collection of quotes and sayings by David Ogilvy which have been scanned from his writings, work, thoughts and books. Go through the thoughts and quotations by David Ogilvy that reveal the secrets of business and advertising.

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Business People

The best ideas come as jokes. Make your thinking as funny as possible.

The best ideas come as jokes. Make your thinking as funny as possible.
David Ogilvy

I don't know the rules of grammar. If you're trying to persuade people to do something, or buy something, it seems to me you should use their language.

I don't know the rules of grammar. If you're trying to persuade people to do something, or buy something, it seems to me you should use their language.
You Me Trying I
David Ogilvy

The consumer isn't a moron. She is your wife.

The consumer isn't a moron. She is your wife.
David Ogilvy

Hard work never killed a man. Men die of boredom, psychological conflict, and disease. They do not die of hard work.

Hard work never killed a man. Men die of boredom, psychological conflict, and disease. They do not die of hard work.
Never
David Ogilvy

Where people aren’t having any fun, they seldom produce good work.

Where people aren’t having any fun, they seldom produce good work.
David Ogilvy

On the average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy. When you have written your headline, you have spent eighty cents out of your dollar.

On the average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy. When you have written your headline, you have spent eighty cents out of your dollar.
You
David Ogilvy

What you say in advertising is more important than how you say it.

What you say in advertising is more important than how you say it.
You
David Ogilvy

Develop your eccentricities while you are young. That way, when you get old, people won’t think you’re going gaga.

Develop your eccentricities while you are young. That way, when you get old, people won’t think you’re going gaga.
You Think Young
David Ogilvy

Much of the messy advertising you see on television today is the product of committees. Committees can criticize advertisements, but they should never be allowed to create them.

Much of the messy advertising you see on television today is the product of committees. Committees can criticize advertisements, but they should never be allowed to create them.
You Never
David Ogilvy

If each of us hires people who are smaller than we are, we shall become a company of dwarfs. But if each of us hires people who are bigger than we are, we shall become a company of giants.

If each of us hires people who are smaller than we are, we shall become a company of dwarfs. But if each of us hires people who are bigger than we are, we shall become a company of giants.
David Ogilvy

Don't bunt. Aim out of the ballpark. Aim for the company of immortals.

Don't bunt. Aim out of the ballpark. Aim for the company of immortals.
David Ogilvy

In my experience, committees can criticize, but they cannot create. ‘Search the parks in all your cities You’ll find no statues of committees.

In my experience, committees can criticize, but they cannot create. ‘Search the parks in all your cities You’ll find no statues of committees.
Experience
David Ogilvy

Don't bunt. Aim out of the ballpark.
David Ogilvy

Sound an alarm! Advertising, not deals, builds brands.

Sound an alarm! Advertising, not deals, builds brands.
David Ogilvy

Consumers still buy products whose advertising promises them value for money, beauty, nutrition, relief from suffering, social status and so on.

Consumers still buy products whose advertising promises them value for money, beauty, nutrition, relief from suffering, social status and so on.
Money
David Ogilvy

The most effective leader is the one who satisfies the psychological needs of his followers.

The most effective leader is the one who satisfies the psychological needs of his followers.
David Ogilvy

Concentrate your time, your brains, and your advertising money on your successes. Back your winners, and abandon your losers.

Concentrate your time, your brains, and your advertising money on your successes. Back your winners, and abandon your losers.
Money Time
David Ogilvy

It isn’t the whiskey they choose, it’s the image.

It isn’t the whiskey they choose, it’s the image.
David Ogilvy

Only amateurs use short copy.
David Ogilvy

Committees can criticize, but they cannot create.

Committees can criticize, but they cannot create.
David Ogilvy

Said Winston Churchill, ‘PERFECTIONISM is spelled PARALYSIS.

Said Winston Churchill, ‘PERFECTIONISM is spelled PARALYSIS.
David Ogilvy

On average, helpful information is read by 75 per cent more people than copy which deals only with the product. This ad told how Rinso gets out stains. It was read and remembered

On average, helpful information is read by 75 per cent more people than copy which deals only with the product. This ad told how Rinso gets out stains. It was read and remembered
David Ogilvy

Advertisements with long copy convey the impression that you have something important to say, whether people read the copy or not.

Advertisements with long copy convey the impression that you have something important to say, whether people read the copy or not.
You
David Ogilvy

In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative, original thinker unless you can also sell what you create.

In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative, original thinker unless you can also sell what you create.
You Business
David Ogilvy

Any fool can write a bad advertisement, but it takes a genius to keep his hands off a good one.

Any fool can write a bad advertisement, but it takes a genius to keep his hands off a good one.
David Ogilvy

A psychologist flashed hundreds of words on a screen and used an electric gadget to measure emotional reactions. High marks went to darling. So I used it in a headline for Dove.

A psychologist flashed hundreds of words on a screen and used an electric gadget to measure emotional reactions. High marks went to darling. So I used it in a headline for Dove.
I
David Ogilvy