CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS (unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 2,208,699	$ 2,138,606	$ 6,428,571	$ 5,945,654
Cost of goods and services	1,361,769	1,332,324	3,983,720	3,651,625
Gross profit	846,930	806,282	2,444,851	2,294,029
Selling and administrative expenses	476,573	476,640	1,451,503	1,378,466
Operating earnings	370,357	329,642	993,348	915,563
Interest expense, net	30,388	30,061	90,132	86,536
Other expense, net	3,962	48	6,726	2,713
Earnings before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	336,007	299,533	896,490	826,314
Provision for income taxes	93,794	76,095	244,548	188,887
Earnings from continuing operations	242,213	223,438	651,942	637,427
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, net	(1,167)	(51,158)	(732)	(20,473)
Net earnings	241,046	172,280	651,210	616,954
Comprehensive earnings	$ 334,327	$ 47,957	$ 692,146	$ 583,927
Earnings per share from continuing operations [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations (in dollars per basic share)	$ 1.33	$ 1.20	$ 3.56	$ 3.42
Earnings from continuing operations (in dollars per diluted share)	$ 1.32	$ 1.19	$ 3.51	$ 3.37
Earnings per share from discontinued operations: [Abstract]
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net (in dollars per basic share)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.28)	$ 0.00	$ (0.11)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net (in dollars per diluted share)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.27)	$ 0.00	$ (0.11)
Net earnings per share: [Abstract]
Net earnings (in dollars per basic share)	$ 1.33	$ 0.93	$ 3.56	$ 3.31
Net earnings (in dollars per diluted share)	$ 1.31	$ 0.91	$ 3.51	$ 3.26
Dividends paid per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.35	$ 0.315	$ 0.98	$ 0.865