Quotes About Integrity

A man is not defined but un-defined by autonomy: he loses his skin.

The general was sufficiently impressed by the young man to ask him to go back to Italy with him. His back to the wall, Atticus for once in his life refused to do a powerful man's bidding. "No, please, I beg you," he replied. "I left Italy to avoid fighting you alongside those you want to lead me against." Sulla liked his candor and let the matter drop.

dubious means might subvert virtuous ends.

Like Caesar, he was loyal but with this difference: he liked to do good by stealth, behind the scenes.

Cicero's central concern is the contradiction between virtue and the inevitable expediencies that divert human agents from the path of right conduct.

Straightforward, direct, and loyal, he was the finest general and admiral of the age.

Philippic (the seventh) in which he defended his record as a peacemaker but said that any compromise with Antony would be dishonorable. "I do not reject peace," he said, "but I am afraid of war disguised as peace.

You must show yourself a man now and consider what you ought to do, and implement your plans as fortune and opportunity allow.

He wanted writers like Titus Livius (in English, Livy) to speak their minds on this subject without fear or favor.

Believing in Arminius' honesty, he took the bait, gathered his scattered forces, and marched off

People naturally prefer you to lie to them rather than refuse them your help," he writes.

A failure is not one who fails, a failure is one who blames others for their own failure.

He who fight monsters must take care that he doesn't become one himself.

You're trying to tell me that everything you've done is for a good cause. You think that all this killing is worth it because of the results. I'm not sure I agree. Lots of people work for charity; lots of people want to change the world. But they don't have to behave like you.

We all make choices, Cossack. Who we are in this world, what we do in it. Generous or selfish. Happy or sad. Good or evil. It's all down to choice.

You have to take responsibility for who you are

Robert Pinkerton used to say that a lie was like a dead coyote. The longer you leave it, the more it smells.

Robert Pinkerton used to say that a lie was like a dead coyote. The longer you leave it, the more it smells. - Frederick Chase

know you're only doing your job, Mr Hawthorne, and you don't really care how you get your results. I was there when you were giving your talk and it struck me then that you have absolutely no heart at all. You don't believe in the law.

It meant nothing to me. You can stick a piece of metal on a coward and a liar but it won't change what he is.

but I want you to know that it was him who said what we were going to do once we got out. Once a lawyer, always a lawyer. I always heard he had a reputation for telling the truth but that wasn't what he did this time, not when it would have stayed with him for the rest of his life. And think what it would have done for his career!!! Not the Blunt Razor. The Blubbing Loser.

But such gossip cannot be confronted. Rumours and malicious gossip are like bindweed. They cannot be cut back, even with the sword of truth.

It would be nice to think that I could get to the end of a third outing with some of my reputation still intact.

I had only my good faith and my entire heart to give to her.