Quotes About Accountability

Whatever disgrace we may have deserved, it is almost always in our power to re-establish our character.

No one can disgrace us but ourselves.

The habit of using ardent spirits by men in office has occasioned more injury to the public, and more trouble to me, than all other causes. Were I to commence my administration again, the first question I would ask respecting a candidate for office would be, Does he use ardent spirits?

We have met the enemy, and he is us.

We should every night call ourselves to an account: What infirmity have I mastered today? What passions opposed! What temptation resisted? What virtue acquired?

Never throw mud. You may miss your mark; but you must have dirty hands.

And oftentimes, excusing of a fault Doth make the fault the worse by the excuse, - As patches, set upon a little breach, Discredit more in hiding of the fault Than did the fault before it was so patched.

A man who has committed a mistake and doesn't correct it is committing another mistake.

I believe we are solely responsible for our choices, and we have to accept the consequences of every deed, word, and thought throughout our lifetime.

There's folks 'ud stand on their heads and then say the fault was i' their boots.

He who is shipwrecked twice is foolish to blame the sea.

He who is shipwrecked the second time cannot lay the blame on Neptune.

The causes of mistakes are "I didn't know"; "I didn't think"; and "I didn't care."

Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.

Act decidedly and take the consequences. No good is ever done by hesitation.

The biggest sin is sitting on your ass.

Indifference and inaction must always pay a penalty.

You can't assume the responsibility for everything you do-or don't do.

We need to restore the full meaning of that old word, duty. It is the other side of rights.

Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required.

When the freedom they wished for most was the freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free and never was free again.

Let no guilty man escape, if it can be avoided. No personal consideration should stand in the way of performing a public duty.

Let wickedness escape as it may at the bar, it never fails of doing justice upon itself; for every guilty person is his own hangman.

He who flees from trial confesses his guilt.