Quotes About Integrity

he was too proud a man to be a vain one.

Quinn: "Shiiiiiiit. I nearly killed him." Blay: "Well, arguably you were being gallant." referring to strangling Saxton for cheating on Blay. Black Dagger Brotherhood #11 Lover at Last

I learned to go into business only with people whom I like, trust, and admire.

In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don't have the first, the other two will kill you.

not doing what we love in the name of greed is very poor management of our lives.

In the long run managements stressing accounting appearance over economic substance usually achieve little of either.

Writing a check separates a commitment from a conversation.

It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.

Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked.

In the 54 years (Charlie Munger and I) have worked together, we have never forgone an attractive purchase because of the macro or political environment, or the views of other people. In fact, these subjects never come up when we make decisions.

It takes twenty years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.

It takes 20 years to build a reputation and 5 minutes to ruin it.

In our book, alignment means being a partner in both directions, not just on the upside. Many "alignment" plans flunk this basic test, being artful forms of "heads I win, tails you lose.

At Berkshire, full reporting means giving you the information that we would wish you to give to us if our positions were reversed.

The bedrock challenge for directors, nevertheless, remains constant: Find and retain a talented CEO — possessing integrity, for sure — who will be devoted to the company for his/her business lifetime. Often, that task is hard. When directors get it right, though, they need to do little else. But when they mess it up, . . . . . .

If our noneconomic values were to be lost, much of Berkshire's economic value would collapse as well. "Tone at the top" will be key to maintaining Berkshire's special culture.

We do not talk one-on-one to large institutional investors or analysts, but rather treat all shareholders the same.

It's only when the tide goes out that you learn who's been swimming naked.

Every law that curbs my basic human freedom; every lie about the things I care for; every crime committed against me by their politics; that what's makes me get up and hound these fuckers, and I'll do that until the day I die... or until my brain dries up or something.

But I am not a monster because I kill. Killing is easy. I am a monster because I accept the hard choices. (Frank Moses)

I've said I love you when I've meant it, and I've said I love you when it was the right thing to say, and I've said I love you when saying anything else would have hurt someone without reason. And I couldn't say a word, there in the dark.

The author tells a story wherein a missionary friend of his was invited by unbelievers on a train ride to play cards. The friend declined, saying that he did not bring his hands with him. He explained to the astonished group that the hands attached to what they saw as his body belonged to the Lord, and he was thereby able to explain the Gospel.

Trust may take forever to build but can be destroyed in less then a heartbeat.

Before speaking, consult your inner-truth barometer, and resist the temptation to tell people only what they want to hear.