Success Quote by David Ogilvy

Ogilvy’s genius here isn’t moral philosophy; it’s damage control disguised as candor. He opens with a loaded concession - “Yes it does” - the kind of bluntness that signals honesty while quietly limiting the blast radius. The pivot, “but fewer editors than you may suppose,” is the real sell. It reframes the listener’s suspicion as exaggerated, almost naive, and positions Ogilvy as the reasonable adult in the room: he’ll admit the sin, but only in manageable doses.

The line is also a shrewd piece of reputation management for two industries that need each other and resent admitting it. Advertising depends on editorial environments for prestige, audience access, and an aura of legitimacy; editors depend on ad money to keep the lights on while insisting their judgment is unsponsored. Ogilvy’s phrasing honors that self-image - “the vast majority of editors are incorruptible” - while leaving ample room for the exceptions everyone knows exist. “Incorruptible” is an almost comically heroic word for a job that is, in practice, built on negotiation and compromise. That’s part of the subtext: integrity is the brand editors must protect, even as the business model constantly tests it.

Context matters: Ogilvy built an empire on persuasion and understood that credibility is the scarcest resource in media. By acknowledging corruption while praising most editors, he reassures advertisers they’re not buying a fully rigged game and reassures editors their self-respect remains intact. It’s a peace treaty written in one sentence, with a wink.