Zhang Zhongmou

"Schumpeter’s words can indeed be borne out by Taiwan’s economic development over the past half century. Mr. Wang Yung-ching of the Formosa Plastics Group represents the takeoff era’s need to pay attention to every detail of management; Mr. Zhang Zhongmou of TSMC represents the grand strategy and outstanding talent displayed in the high-tech era."

"As a successful entrepreneur, Mr. Zhang Zhongmou has throngs of followers and a single call brings many responses; but as a thinker, he is still somewhat lonely. He does not craft a gentle tone to express his negations, nor does he use arm-in-arm familiarity or buddy-buddy tactics to soften his rules. Thus, as one journalist put it, this man once looked up to by all of society is, in fact, out of step with society: “I know many people don’t like me.” This is his sincere self-assessment, yet he does not intend to change anything."

"Is it “easy to know but hard to do,” or “hard to know but easy to do”? I think that as a man of action, Mr. Zhang Zhongmou actually leans toward “hard to know but easy to do,”"

"Pursuing practical results in modern high-tech enterprises is, of course, related to innovation; therefore, what necessarily follows close behind the pragmatic philosophy is the philosophy of innovation. Without innovation, one is eliminated immediately—there can be no results to speak of. In this autobiography there is a passage describing the Sylvania company, where Mr. Zhang Zhongmou once served with great enthusiasm. Because the leadership of the semiconductor division stagnated and grew complacent, it ultimately declined. The scene in which Mr. Zhang went to inspect the instruments and equipment to be sold is quite affecting."