Quotes About Integrity

We know that power does corrupt, and that we cannot trust kings to have loving hearts, and clear intellects, and noble instincts

If we look to our clergymen to be more than men, we shall probably teach ourselves to think that they are less, and can hardly hope to raise the character of the pastor by denying to him the right to entertain the aspirations of a man.

We must take him as he is. He was put into the army very young, and was very young when he came into possession of his own small fortune. He might have done better; but how many young men placed in such temptations do well? As it is, he has nothing left." "I fear not." "And therefore is it not imperative that he should marry a girl with money?" "I call that stealing a girl's money, Lady Carbury.

What follows as a natural consequence? Men reconcile themselves to swindling. Though they themselves mean to be honest, dishonesty of itself is no longer odious to them. Then there comes the jealousy that others should be growing rich with the approval of all the world, — and the natural aptitude to do what all the world approves. It seems to me that the existence of a Melmotte is not compatible with a wholesome state of things in general.

Yes; — exactly. But what is to be the end of it? Is he to be allowed to ruin you and Hetta? It can't go on long." "You wouldn't have me throw him over." "I think he is throwing you over. And then it is so thoroughly dishonest, — so ungentlemanlike! I

is true that one must put up with wrong, with a great deal of wrong. But no one need put up with wrong that he can remedy.

But he is too proud to watch. If you and I were hatching treason against him in the dark, and chance had brought him there, he would stop his ears with his fingers. He is all trust, even when he knows that he is being deceived

I do not believe in a woman marrying a bad man in the hope of making him good." "Especially not when the woman is naturally inclined to evil herself.

A certain class of dishonesty … has become at the same time so rampant and so splendid that there seems to be reason for fearing that men and women will be taught to feel that dishonesty, if it can become splendid, will cease to be abominable.

It is easy for most of us to keep our hands from picking and stealing when picking and stealing plainly lead to prison diet and prison garments. But when silks and satins come of it, and with the silks and satins general respect, the net result of honesty does not seem to be so secure.

If it had turned out to be anybody else," said the member of Parliament, "the results might have been most serious, — not to say discreditable.

There's nothing of honesty left in politics," said Mr. Bonteen, declaring that he was sick of the life.

it makes me feel that an honest man should not place himself where he may have to deal with such persons." "According to that the honest men are to desert their country in order that the dishonest men may have everything their own way.

Who excuses himself is his own accuser. ..As far as I can see a slander never lives long...I am almost inclined to say that a man should never defend himself.

After all," said he, "money is a fine thing." "Very fine, when it is well come by," she answered; "that is, without detriment to the heart or soul.

One seems inclined to think sometimes that any fool might do an honest business.  But fraud requires a man to be alive and wide awake at every turn!

When a man says to you, "Let us be candid with each other," you feel instinctively that he desires to squeeze you without giving a drop of water himself.

But if a man never mentions his belongings among those with whom he lives, he becomes mysterious, and almost open to suspicion. It begins to be known that nobody knows anything of such a man, and even friends become afraid. It is certainly convenient to be able to allude, if it be but once in a year, to some blood relation.

I know nothing whatever about politics," said Lord Chiltern. "I wish you did," said his sister,— "with all my heart." "I never did, — and I never shall, for all your wishing. It's the meanest trade going I think, and I'm sure it's the most dishonest.

I dare say, and as it doesn't displease me all is well. You, however, have quite sense enough to understand, that in this house more is thought of—of—of— he would have said blood, but that he did not wish to hurt her,—more is thought of personal good conduct than of rings and jewels.

A man who is a gentleman in his cups may be trusted to be a gentleman at all times.

CHAPTER LXXII 'BID HIM BE A MAN

At any rate, it is as easy to do that as to tell of the man who is one hour good and the next bad, who aspires greatly but fails in practice, who sees the higher but too often follows the lower course.

But he was a man who could not make his reason subordinate to his feelings. If the evidence against his friend was strong enough to send his friend for trial, how should he dare to discredit the evidence because the man was his friend?