Note 14 - Employee Stock Option and Retirement Plans (Details) - Summary of Stock Option Activity (USD $)	0 Months Ended			12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Jan. 15, 2014	Jan. 15, 2013	Jan. 13, 2012	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012	Feb. 28, 2014 Non-Performance Based [Member]	Nov. 30, 2013 Non-Performance Based [Member]	Feb. 28, 2013 Non-Performance Based [Member]	Nov. 30, 2012 Non-Performance Based [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Non-Performance Based [Member]	Nov. 30, 2011 Non-Performance Based [Member]	Aug. 31, 2014 Non-Performance Based [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Non-Performance Based [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Non-Performance Based [Member]	Aug. 31, 2014 Performance Shares [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Performance Shares [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Performance Shares [Member]	Aug. 31, 2014 Non-Employee Director Grant [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Non-Employee Director Grant [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Non-Employee Director Grant [Member]
Note 14 - Employee Stock Option and Retirement Plans (Details) - Summary of Stock Option Activity [Line Items]
Balance, Number outstanding				4,729,000	6,083,000	6,132,000
Balance, Weighted average exercise price per share				$ 75.95	$ 64.76	$ 57.28
Granted, Number outstanding	14,424	18,781	20,976	391,478	1,674,966	1,468,513	138,902	35,508	9,367	635,308	120,847	665,551	174,000	645,000	540,000	203,000	1,011,000	907,000	14,000	19,000	21,000
Granted, Weighted average exercise price per share									$ 92.55				$ 103.36	$ 92.22	$ 93.96	$ 109.56	$ 92.22	$ 93.80	$ 107.65	$ 91.06	$ 87.26
Exercised, Number outstanding				(789,000)	(2,286,000)	(731,000)
Exercised, Weighted average exercise price per share				$ 57.56	$ 52.25	$ 35.96
Forfeited, Number outstanding				(849,000)	(743,000)	(786,000)
Forfeited, Weighted average exercise price per share				$ 91.98	$ 93.84	$ 87.37
Balance, Number outstanding				3,482,000	4,729,000	6,083,000
Balance, Weighted average exercise price per share				$ 79.67	$ 75.95	$ 64.76