Idea Ripper // ArchiveCards: 1555 [Live] | Updated: 2026-10-14
Card #c1165IR // #c1165Synthesis

"He aimed throughout at the highest excellence, declaring his determination 'to give over manufacturing any article, whatsoever it might be, rather than to degrade it.'"

— In our words · Source: Self-Help (Samuel Smiles)

[Use when]

Margins are squeezed and the easy fix is a cheaper version under the same name.

[Why it matters]

Wedgwood made the line explicit: when quality couldn't be held, the article stopped. Smiles credits the standard with lifting the whole Staffordshire district.

Filed under situations:When you’re building the thing, not just planning it

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