Integrity Quotes

To see the right and not to do it is cowardice.

I know that man who forsakes Truth can forsake his country and his nearest and dearest ones.

The one who tries to get something for nothing generally winds up getting nothing for something.

Attend well to your character, and your reputation will look out for itself.

I believe that the members of my family must be as free from suspicion as from actual crime.

The highest kind of man is the one who does before talking and practices what he professes.

'Twas but my tongue, 'twas not my soul that swore.

Don't foul, don't flinch-hit the line hard.

For my part, I wish, with Mr. Howells, that the literature of the past might be purged of all that is ugly and barbarous in it, although I should object as much as any one to having these great works weakened or falsified.

Let honesty be as the breath of thy soul; then shalt thou reach the point of happiness, and independence shall be thy shield and buckler, thy helmet and crown; then shall thy soul walk upright, nor stoop to the silken wretch because he hath riches, nor pocket an abuse because the hand which offers it wears a ring set with diamonds.

One cannot always be a hero, but one can always be a man.

I find that the respectable man, so called, has immediately drifted from his position, and despairs of his country, when his country has more reason to despair of him. He forthwith adopts one of the candidatesas the only available one, thus proving that he is himself available for any purposes of the demagogue. His vote is of no more worth than that of any unprincipled foreigner or hireling native, who may have been bought.

Above all, beware of compromises. I do not mean that you are to get into antagonism with anybody, but you have to hold on to your own principles in weal or woe and never adjust them to others "fads" thought the greed of getting supporters.

Can you care for the people and rule the country and not be cunning?

We have not always been in sync on every issue in terms of our core values, in terms of her integrity, her truthfulness, her thoughtfulness, [Angela Merkel] doing her homework, knowing her facts, her commitment to looking out for the interests of the German people first, but recognizing that part of good leadership on behalf of the nation requires engaging the world as a whole, and participating effectively in multilaterally institutions, I think she's been outstanding.

He that filches from me my good name robs me of that which enriches him and makes me poor indeed.

The heroic soul does not sell its justice and its nobleness. It does not ask to dine nicely and to sleep warm. The essence of greatness is the perception that virtue is enough. Poverty is its ornament. It does not need plenty, and can very well abide its loss.

I am not given to exaggeration, and when I say a thing I mean it.

The nobility of our calling will always be rooted in two commitments difficult to observe: refusal to lie about what we know, and resistance to oppression.

A man should practice what he preaches, but a man should also preach what he practices.

Corruption wins not more than honesty. Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace, To silence envious tongues.

Honesty, disinterestedness and good nature are indispensable to procure the esteem and confidence of those with whom we live, and on whose esteem our happiness depends.

To have acted otherwise ... would have been the betrayal of the interests of the United States.

When a company or an individual compromises one time, whether it's on price or principle, the next compromise is right around the corner.

I take it for granted, when I am invited to lecture anywhere,--for I have had a little experience in that business,--that there isa desire to hear what I think on some subject, though I may be the greatest fool in the country,--and not that I should say pleasant things merely, or such as an audience will assent to; and I resolve, accordingly, that I will give them a strong dose of myself. They have sent for me, and engaged to pay for me, and I am determined that they shall have me, though I bore them beyond all precedent.

Our words must be judged by our deeds; and in striving for a lofty ideal we must use practical methods; and if we cannot attain all at one leap, we must advance towards it step by step, reasonably content so long as we do actually make some progress in the right direction.

When money comes in at the gate, sport flies out at the window.

Fame or integrity: which is more important? Money or happiness: which is more valuable? Success or failure: which is more destructive? If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

Man is born with uprightness. If one loses it, he will be lucky if he escapes with his life.

There is nothing on earth that I would not give up, excepting of course, two things and two things only, truth and nonviolence.

If you are poor, shun association with him who measures men with the yardstick of riches.

The superior man... does not set his mind either for or against anything, he will pursue whatever is right. The superior man thinks of virtue, the common man of comfort.

Credibility is a leader's currency. With it, he or she is solvent; without it, he or she is bankrupt.

His life was gentle; and the elements So mixed in him, that Nature might stand up And say to all the world, THIS WAS A MAN!

Courage--judgment--integrity--dedication--these are the historic qualities of the Bay Colony and the Bay State....And these are the qualities which, with God's help, this son of Massachusetts hopes will characterize our government's conduct in the four stormy years that lie ahead.

Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means, at the point of highest reality. A chastity or honesty or mercy which yields to danger will be chaste or honest or merciful only on conditions. Pilate was merciful till it became risky.

Character is that which can do without success.

A principle is a principle and in no case can it be watered down because of our incapacity to live it in practice. We have to strive to achieve it, and the striving should be conscious, deliberate and hard.

The most important thing for a young man is to establish a credit... a reputation, character.

A rigid economy of the public contributions and absolute interdiction of all useless expenses will go far towards keeping the government honest and unoppressive.

It is true that integrity alone won't make you a leader, but without integrity you will never be one.

By all means tell the world how good you are - but do it with actions, not words.

For I can raise no money by vile means. By heaven, I had rather coin my heart, And drop my blood for drachmas

If a superior man abandon virtue, how can he fulfil the requirements of that name?

Let those flatter who fear; it is not an American art .

I don't really care about being right, I just care about success. I don't mind being wrong, and I'll admit that I'm wrong a lot. It doesn't really matter to me too much. What matters to me is that we do the right thing.

Why should honor outlive honestly? Orthello

I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! That is character!

A person's life persuades better than his word.

Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.

My tongue swore, but my mind was still unpledged.

Throughout my career, if I have done anything, I have paid attention to every note and every word I sing - if I respect the song. If I cannot project this to a listener, I fail.

The regular path of virtue is to be pursued without any bend, and from no view to emolument.

No client ever had money enough to bribe my conscience or to stop its utterance against wrong, and oppression.

If you are going to keep company with me, don't embarrass me.

Honour is external conscience, and conscience is inward honour.

Let not a man do what his sense of right bids him not to do, nor desire what it forbids him to desire. This is sufficient. The skillful artist will not alter his measures for the sake of a stupid workman.

I love to see honest and honorable men at the helm, men who will not bend their politics to their purses, nor pursue measures by which they may profit, and then profit by their measures.

The man who craves disciples and wants followers is always more or less of a charlatan. The man of genuine worth and insight wants to be himself; and he wants others to be themselves, also.

Persecution cannot harm him who stands by Truth. Did not Socrates fall proudly a victim in body? Was not Paul stoned for the sake of the Truth? It is our inner selves that hurt us when we disobey it, and it kills us when we betray it.