Skip to main content

Success Quote by Harvey S. Firestone

"The secret of my success is a two word answer: Know people"

About this Quote

Firestone’s line reads like a humble-brag boiled down to boardroom scripture: success isn’t a mystery, it’s a contact list. The “two word answer” shtick is a salesman’s move in itself, promising simplicity while smuggling in something messier. “Know people” sounds folksy, even democratic, but it’s also quietly managerial. Not “know the product,” not “know the market,” not “know yourself” - know people, meaning: understand their incentives, their fears, their price, their pride. It’s intimacy with an agenda.

Coming from Harvey S. Firestone, the intent is practical and strategic. He built an empire in an era when American industry was consolidating, labor was organizing, and transportation was rewriting the map. Tires weren’t just rubber; they were tied to supply chains, commodity politics, factory discipline, and the new celebrity of the automobile. “Knowing people” in that world meant knowing Henry Ford-type partners, bankers, foremen, union pressures, and the politicians who could make or break contracts. It’s networking, yes, but also coalition-building and risk control.

The subtext has a steel edge: competence alone won’t save you. Systems are run by humans, and humans run on relationships. Firestone frames success as social intelligence, which doubles as a warning to the technocrat fantasy that the best idea wins. In his worldview, power travels through trust, access, and leverage - and the person who “knows people” gets to steer the room before the meeting even starts.

Quote Details

TopicSuccess
Source
Later attribution: The Most Inspiring Things Ever Said (Steven D. Price, 2017) modern compilationISBN: 9781493026234 · ID: Oa_GDQAAQBAJ
Text match: 95.00%   Provider: Google Books
Evidence:
... The secret of my success is a two - word answer : Know people . -HARVEY S. FIRESTONE The secret of success is to do common things uncommonly well . JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER Criticism may not be agreeable , but it is necessary . It fulfills ...
Cite

Citation Formats

APA Style (7th ed.)
Firestone, Harvey S. (2026, March 10). The secret of my success is a two word answer: Know people. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-secret-of-my-success-is-a-two-word-answer-148531/

Chicago Style
Firestone, Harvey S. "The secret of my success is a two word answer: Know people." FixQuotes. March 10, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-secret-of-my-success-is-a-two-word-answer-148531/.

MLA Style (9th ed.)
"The secret of my success is a two word answer: Know people." FixQuotes, 10 Mar. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-secret-of-my-success-is-a-two-word-answer-148531/. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.

More Quotes by Harvey Add to List
The Secret of My Success: Know People
Click to enlarge Portrait | Landscape

About the Author

USA Flag

Harvey S. Firestone (December 20, 1868 - February 7, 1938) was a Businessman from USA.

11 more quotes available

View Profile

Similar Quotes

Jean Giraudoux, Dramatist
Walter Chrysler, Inventor
Walter Chrysler
Judith Guest, Novelist

We use cookies and local storage to personalize content, analyze traffic, and provide social media features. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media and analytics partners. By continuing to use our site, you consent to our Privacy Policy.