Home / Quotes / Quote by Charles Koch

Quote by Charles Koch

“I didn't think I was good at anything, didn't do well in school. And then in the third grade, I was going to a public school. And the teacher was putting math problems on the board. And I said to myself - it's amazing how you can remember certain incidents at any age that made an impression - I asked myself why is she putting those up when the answers are obvious. And then I saw it wasn't obvious to anybody else in the class. So I said, "Hey, I'm good at something."”

Quote by Charles Koch

Author

Charles Koch is an American businessman, born on November 1, 1935. He is the founder and CEO of Koch Industries, one of the largest private companies in the United States. Koch Industries operates in various industries, including oil, chemicals, and forest products, and is one of the largest private companies in the world. Koch has achieved great success in the business world, but is also a controversial political donor. more

You May Also Like

“I think this is so important - what's not done well at education at every level - is helping kids find, as I discovered for myself, what I was good at. I was very lucky to find out that at an early age, which set my direction in life.”

Thinking Wells Important Done Helping Kids Age Levels Lucky

Author:Charles Koch

“Scientific discoveries and innovation come from combining different existing technologies and different perspectives in a unique way.”

Way Different Technology Perspective Unique Discovery Innovation Different Perspective Combining Scientific Discovery

Author:Charles Koch

“The old idea that some genius pulls all of this stuff out of the air is ridiculous. As Ridley pointed out, the only way Edison could invent the lightbulb is because all the elements had been developed before. That's obvious it wasn't just his genius - 20 others developed it at the same time. And that's true for almost every invention and discovery.”

Way Ideas Stuff Air Genius Elements Discovery Obvious Ridiculous Invention Old Ideas

Author:Charles Koch

“You'll remember Newton was furious at Leibniz, because he developed calculus at the same time. And he went to his death believing that he had copied him. And no, it's because all the elements were there, so it's almost inevitable that the next discovery - as long as people are free and allowed to experiment and try new things.”

People Trying Believe Long Remember Next Elements Discovery Experiments Inevitable New Things Newton Furious Calculus

Author:Charles Koch

“If you're a leader at any level and your people aren't challenging you, you've got to change that or you can't be a leader here because you're not going to be using ideas, you're not going to have innovation, you're not going to fully develop your people. And if you're working in a group and you don't challenge, then you're not really doing your job.”

People Ifs Ideas Jobs Challenges Levels Leader Groups Innovation

Author:Charles Koch

“We find that when we make an acquisition, or we have a hiring experience, that's one of the hardest things to change. If you've been working for a company where you didn't dare challenge your boss, or what's politically correct in the company, then it affects your career.”

Ifs Challenges Company Careers Dare Hardest Boss Hardest Thing Acquisition Hiring Politically Correct

Author:Charles Koch

“You can pay certain people more money and stuff but that's just going to be a transfer from one group to another. The only way people's wages are going to rise overall, or average median income is going to rise, is if you increase productivity.”

People Ifs Way Certain Stuff Pay Groups Increase Average Productivity Income More Money Wages Transfers Median

Author:Charles Koch

“Just spreading the money around - that isn't what makes people better off; it's having more and better goods and services.”

People Goods Better Off Goods And Services

Author:Charles Koch

“What we need to work on is how to increase productivity. And then everybody will be better off.”

Needs Increase Productivity Better Off

Author:Charles Koch

“I've been blessed by learning certain principles and values that transformed my life and enabled me to accomplish more than I really had the ability to do or ever dream possible. And so I decided that I wanted to give as many other people as possible the opportunity to learn these ideas and transform their lives as I had.”

People Giving Ideas Dream Wanted Certain Values Opportunity Ability Principles Decided Blessed Accomplish Transformed Opportunities To Learn Principles And Values

Author:Charles Koch