CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS STATEMENTS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Income		$ 3,634,932	$ 4,349,603	$ 3,273,789
Adjustments to reconcile Net income to Net cash provided by operating activities—
Depreciation, amortization and asset impairments	[1]	801,789	729,052	645,923
Share-based compensation expense		795,235	758,176	680,329
Pension settlement charge		460,908	0	64,382
Pension settlement charge			0	(64,382)
(Gain) loss on sale of businesses		252	(848,823)	0
Deferred income taxes, net		(364,133)	65,940	(459,109)
Other, net		88,123	(53,706)	(237,876)
Change in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions—
Receivables from clients, net		(169,714)	(177,156)	(158,990)
Unbilled services, current and non-current, net		96,392	(192,912)	(268,135)
Other current and non-current assets		(415,568)	(655,876)	(400,524)
Accounts payable		173,712	72,626	113,548
Deferred revenues, current and non-current		(38,954)	302,738	182,836
Accrued payroll and related benefits		(117,725)	386,018	586,548
Income taxes payable, current and non-current		15,721	(158,970)	189,063
Other current and non-current liabilities		12,069	90,690	(35,621)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		4,973,039	4,667,400	4,176,163
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment		(515,919)	(496,566)	(395,017)
Purchases of businesses and investments, net of cash acquired		(1,704,188)	(932,542)	(791,704)
Proceeds from the sale of businesses and investments, net of cash transferred		(24,035)	814,538	10,553
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment		10,263	4,220	5,784
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(2,233,879)	(610,350)	(1,170,384)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares		676,045	591,357	554,149
Purchases of shares		(2,649,051)	(2,604,989)	(2,452,989)
Proceeds from (repayments of) long-term debt, net		(2,120)	(1,059)	701
Cash dividends paid		(1,567,578)	(1,438,138)	(1,353,471)
Other, net		(17,531)	(36,389)	(34,712)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(3,560,235)	(3,489,218)	(3,286,322)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		42,326	(22,989)	(279,996)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		(778,749)	544,843	(560,539)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period		4,905,609	4,360,766	4,921,305
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period		4,126,860	4,905,609	4,360,766
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Interest paid		15,751	16,285	14,810
Income taxes paid		$ 1,288,788	$ 1,425,480	$ 1,433,538

[1] Amounts include depreciation on property and equipment and amortization of intangible assets controlled by each operating segment, as well as an allocation for amounts they do not directly control.