To keep his employees
headed toward the same goals, Ogilvy issued memos containing tips
for creating the best advertising possible. Some famous Ogilvy-isms
from these memos include:
People do not buy from bad-mannered liars.
The consumer's not a moron, she's your wife. Don't insult her
intelligence.
Tell the truth, but make the truth fascinating.
Never run an ad you wouldn't want your family to see.
We pursue knowledge the way a pig pursues truffles.
We prefer the discipline of knowledge to the anarchy of ignorance.
Tolerate genius.
Get rid of sad dogs who spread gloom.
Ogilvy & Mather does two things:
We look after clients and we
teach young advertising people.
Big ideas are usually simple ideas.
It is important to admit your mistakes, and to do so before you are
charged with them.
Hire the kind of people clients don't have and wouldn't dream of
hiring.
If you hire people who are bigger than you are, we shall become a
company of giants.
I admire people with gentle manners who treat other people as human
beings.