I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
I forgot that every little action of the common day makes or unmakes character, and that therefore what one has done in the secret chamber one has some day to cry aloud on the house-tops.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Integrity is praised and then left out in the cold.
—Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet
A task becomes a duty from the moment you suspect it to be an essential part of that integrity which alone entitles a man to assume responsibility.
—Dag Hammarskjold (1905–61) Swedish Statesman, UN Diplomat
I have always tried to be true to myself, to pick those battles I felt were important. My ultimate responsibility is to myself. I could never be anything else.
—Arthur Ashe (1943–93) American Tennis Player
Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.
—Ask Ann Landers (1918–2002) American Advice Columnist
I never did, or countenanced, in public life, a single act inconsistent with the strictest good faith; having never believed there was one code of morality for a public, and another for a private man.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
I don’t have to attend every argument I’m invited to.
—Unknown
Men are not punished for their sins, but by them.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
I would rather be right than be president.
—Henry Clay (1777–1852) American Politician
Goodness is beauty in the best estate.
—Christopher Marlowe (1564–93) English Playwright, Poet, Translator
If at first you don’t succeed, do it like your mother told you.
—Unknown
A magazine editor recently asked me to sit down on my 40th birthday and write an article on the most important things I had learned in my first 40 years. I told him that the chief thing I had learned was that the copybook maxims are true, but that too many people forget this once they go out into the heat and hustle and bustle of the battle of life and only realize their truth once one foot is beginning to slip into the grave. The man who has won millions at the cost of his conscience is a failure.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
There is a difference between him who does no misdeeds because of his own conscience and him who is kept from wrongdoing because of the presence of others.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Strive for integrity – that means knowing your values in life and behaving in a way that is consistent with these values.
—Unknown
In each human heart are a tiger, a pig, an ass and a nightingale. Diversity of character is due to their unequal activity.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Be good. And if you can’t be good, be careful. And if you can’t be careful, name it after me.
—Unknown
I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
Everyone complains of his lack of memory, but nobody of his want of judgement.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
We should often have reason to be ashamed of our most brilliant actions if the world could see the motives from which they spring.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Integrity is the essence of everything successful.
—Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) American Inventor, Philosopher
Can one preach at home inequality of races and nations and advocate abroad good-will towards all men?
—Dorothy Thompson (1893–1961) American Journalist, Radio Personality
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
If we are ever in doubt about what to do, it is a good rule to ask ourselves what we shall wish on the morrow that we had done.
—John Lubbock (1834–1913) English Politician, Biologist
Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
Not being able to govern events, I govern myself, and apply myself to them, if they will not apply themselves to me.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
The time is always right to do what’s right.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
We grow with years more fragile in body, but morally stouter, and can throw off the chill of a bad conscience almost at once.
—Logan Pearsall Smith (1865–1946) American-British Essayist, Bibliophile
If humanity does not opt for integrity we are through completely. It is absolutely touch and go. Each one of us could make the difference.
—Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) American Inventor, Philosopher
Dignity consists not in possessing honors, but in the consciousness that we deserve them.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
You must consider the bottom line, but make it integrity before profits.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
The strength of a man’s virtue should not be measured by his special exertions, but by his habitual acts.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
There can be no friendship without confidence, and no confidence without integrity.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
It is not what we eat but what we digest that makes us strong; not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned; and not what we profess but what we practice that gives us integrity.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Think what you do when you run in debt; you give to another power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see your creditor; will be in fear when you speak to him; will make poor, pitiful, sneaking excuses, and by degrees come to lose your veracity, and sink into base, downright lying; for the second vice is lying, the first is running in debt. A freeborn man ought not to be ashamed nor afraid to see or speak to any man living, but poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue. It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour.
—Japanese Proverb
Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
The only exercise some people get is jumping to conclusions, running down their friends, side-stepping responsibility, and pushing their luck.
—Unknown
Man is the only animal that blushes—or needs to.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
I am not covetous for gold; but if it be a sin to covet honor, I am the most offending soul alive.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Our words, our thoughts, and our feelings all contribute to the creation of our reality. Our word is a two-edged sword, it can create or it can destroy. To be impeccable is to create with conscious awareness and love. Ruiz also makes the point that our perceptions of others are merely reflections of ourselves. Therefore, to put another down or project negative words or energy towards another person, is to lash out at the other person because of our own insecurities. The human mind is fertile ground for the seeds that are our word. So plant the seeds of love, not fear. Judging, blaming, shaming, and especially gossiping create poison in ourselves and others. This agreement alone is enough to break all of your old agreements and change the dream of your life.
—Miguel Angel Ruiz (b.1952) Mexican Spiritualist Author
The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny – it is the light that guides your way.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Integrity simple means not violating one’s own identity.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
Live that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
A person is not given integrity. It results from the relentless pursuit of honesty at all times.
—Unknown
Little boldness is needed to assail the opinions and practices of notoriously wicked men; but to rebuke great and good men for their conduct, and to impeach their discernment, is the highest effort of moral courage.
—William Lloyd Garrison (1805–79) American Journalist, Abolitionist
To do an evil act is base. To do a good one without incurring danger, is common enough. But it is the part of a good man to do great and noble deeds though he risks everything in doing them.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
Be right, and then be easy to live with, if possible, but in that order.
—Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) American Mormon Religious Leader