Martti Ahtisaari Quotes

Be influenced by nothing but your clients' interests. Tell them the truth.

I have never broken a contract in my career.

A show of a certain amount of honesty is in any profession or business the surest way of growing rich.

Though negotiations are a rough game, you should never allow them to become a dirty game. Once you've agreed to a deal, don't back out of it unless the other party fails to deliver as promised. Your handshake is your bond. As far as I'm concerned, a handshake is worth more than a signed contract. As an entrepreneur, a reputation for integrity is your most valuable commodity. If you try to put something over on someone, it will come back to haunt you.

It's never been difficult for me to say no. I have never given excuses like I don't have dates. I have never over-quoted to avoid a project. I simply say that while the script might be good, I can't connect with it. My strategy is that while I wouldn't want anyone to waste my time, I shouldn't be doing that, either, with others.

I'm just in an unfortunate business where if you ask me a question I have to answer it honestly and if I don't answer it truthfully then I'm not respected.

But I think doctors have always been either honest or dishonest.

I don't mind being cast as some kind of a pantomime baddie, but I am very fair in business. I always have been. I pride myself on being fair.

Show me any health professional - great and not so great - who says they don't make mistakes or haven't made one in years, and I'll show you someone who has trouble admitting the truth.

There are words that work, that are meant to explain and educate on policies that work, on products that work, on services that work. I'm not going to ever try to sell a lemon. I don't do that.

Attend with Diligence and strict Integrity to the Interest of your Correspondents and enter into no Engagements which you have not the almost certain Means of performing.

I respect the Japanese and especially like their execution and communication styles. Unlike the Koreans, they will not hit you from behind.

I've had people accuse me of being too tough of a grader. But my job is to paint reality versus telling people what they want to hear.

I'm a native New Yorker, so I'm edgier; I kind of tell it like it is.

I tell students and young professionals all the time to follow their hearts, do what they truly love, and if it's business, run it by being grounded in ethical consciousness.

People see us as no better than we are.

All you have in business is your reputation - so it's very important that you keep your word.

Treating everyone with dignity and respect is of utmost importance to me and are values we instill and take very seriously at Mylan.

It is always right to detect a fraud, and to perceive a folly; but it is very often wrong to expose either. A man of business should always have his eyes open, but must often seem to have them shut.

If you are a doctor or farmer, be sincere about your profession. If you can do what you do honestly, you will end up serving your country.

So many times, I notice nobody will say a bad word about a team or situation because they're worried about their next job. I'm not worried about that.

Deliver bad news early and personally.

I would never lie about another professional.

My philosophy is always to fulfill contracts.

I am not a politician. I'm an American businessman and entrepreneur that have built two businesses, and I try to play it straight with people.