Quotes About Responsibility

The Nuremberg trials established the principle that neither "obeying the law" nor "following orders" is a sufficient legal defense for those accused of violating basic standards of civilization.

Worldwide, there are more refugees huddled in camps than there have been since the Nazi surrender almost three-quarters of a century ago

The inherent tensions between the White House and the press should not worry a president who is disciplined about observing certain elementary tactics of survival. Take responsibility, admit mistakes, put out bad news quickly, and acknowledge inconsistencies before others point them out.

Führer would soon make all things right.

Why has the United States—at least temporarily—abdicated its leadership in world affairs?

We see long-term planning as necessary and deliberation as a virtue, but when we decide that action is urgently needed, our tolerance for delay disappears.

Already, "never again" was happening.

No error is more common than to assume that the winner of an election has license to do whatever he or she may want.

As for Hitler, they were not nearly so scared of him as they should have been.

In recent years, we have all become familiar with the counterterrorism mantra: "See something, say something." In the pages that follow, I propose an added exhortation—do something. What that something might be is for each of us to decide in accordance with our opportunities and talents, but it begins by pushing back harder against the debilitating cancer of cynicism.

And yet throughout the world, past and present, for thousands of years, those whom we call good men, righteous men, have been accustomed to the sight of such things, have sat and looked and considered them to be matters of course, have not demanded justice for the victims or offered to help them. This is the most appalling, unjust, and unequal thing, the most inexplicable theory under heaven.

She wanted to tell him that whatever happened, whatever they chose, one day they would have to come awake, everyone would have to stand up and confront themselves and realize that it wasn't the Party that made them do it. One day, they would be alone with their actions.

She wanted to tell them that whatever happened, whatever they chose, one day they would have to come awake, everyone would have to stand up and confront themselves and realize it wasn't the party that made them do it. One day, they would be alone with their actions.

For life is the mirror of king and slave, 'Tis just what we are and do Then give to the world the best you have, And the best will come back to you.

Drawing even with her, the Prince strode along at her side, still scowling ferociously. "It is not for me to tell you what to do. The wizards of Leal are the High King's allies, not his subjects. But if you were my sister or my cousin—" "If I were your sister or your cousin," she retorted, "you still wouldn't have the power or the right to change my mind!

You touch the world even if you do not want it to touch you. -Leona Montgomery

Doing the right thing often resulted in living the wrong thing forever. -Christian, Marquess of Eastrerbrook

Because to take away a man's freedom of choice, even his freedom to make the wrong choice, is to manipulate him as though he were a puppet and not a person.

When a subculture is heading in the wrong direction, it is up to the adults of the larger culture to steer it back in the right direction.

Children need work experiences to develop a sense that success is a function of their own efforts.

Probably the greatest intellectual accomplishment in adolescence is the ability to think hypothetically, to engage in "if/ then" thinking. "If I blow off my math test, then I may fail the course and have to go to summer school." All of a sudden, blowing off the math test is about a whole set of consequences.

we must be certain that our children can face these challenges armed with a well-developed moral compass.

When you allow your child to palm off responsibility you encourage the idea that someone else is responsible both for the problem and for fixing it. This attitude is bound to make your child less competent and therefore lower his self-esteem. Even when others have a hand in your child's distress, which will happen, teach your child to take responsibility for his own life.

I could not make him a god," she says. Her jagged voice, rich with grief. /But you made him./