David Shribman Quotes

Of front-line importance among the most contagious and enduring traits of the leaders of nations and of all callings is that of spotless character.

John isn't qualified to be vice president. He doesn't have the intellect. He doesn't have the stature. He doesn't have the honesty. He doesn't have the character that it takes.

Character in leadership is the most important balance for leadership. Without character, leaders have no safety. Leadership has no protection without character.

Be thou incapable of change in that which is right, and men will rely upon thee. Establish unto thyself principles of action; and see that thou ever act according to them. First know that thy principles are just, and then be thou.

People should be judged by the principles they espouse and the principles they betray.

I look for officers who are strong in character – we can teach the skills necessary to do the job but it’s more challenging to find those who are there for the right reasons.

I want to emphasize that character in our leaders does matter.

In a president, character is everything. A president doesn't have to be brilliant... He doesn't have to be clever; you can hire clever... You can hire pragmatic, and you can buy and bring in policy wonks. But you cant buy courage and decency, you cant rent a strong moral sense. A president must bring those things with him. He needs to have, in that much maligned word, but a good one nonetheless, a vision of the future he wishes to create.. But a vision is worth little if a president doesn't have the character - the courage and heart - to see it through.

You never want to do anything that you don't want your mother to see, because it will haunt you and eventually come back to bite you!

Every night I go over what I did in the day, in ethical or moral terms. Have I treated people properly? Did I tell the truth?

No matter what name we give it or how we judge it, a candidate's character is central to political reporting because it is central to a citizen's decision in voting.

I learned one thing in Watergate: I was well-intentioned but rationalized illegal behavior. You cannot live your life other than walking in the truth. Your means are as important as your ends.

Character is what was yesterday and will be tomorrow.

It is almost impossible to imagine that any one could be so insensible to the high morality of Mr. Mill's character as to suggest to him any course of conduct that was not entirely upright and consistent.

Character is destiny and character is important to American campaigns.

Let us be tried by our actions.

While I have made errors that I deeply regret, I have never, ever done so with the intent of subverting the law or of benefiting myself.

Whatever flaws or personal failings afflict them, it remains the case that the overwhelming majority of priests and politicians are honourable and honest - seeking to live out their beliefs and serve society.

At least I'm going into the job with clean hands.

I am always prepared to do the right thing regardless of what other people think.

Every leader has the responsibility to hone his or her integrity. Many times, there are integrity traps that have a tendency to catch well-meaning leaders off guard.

Frankly, right is right and wrong is wrong, particularly when a parent is talking to a child. A bright line around moral responsibility is very important.

At the end the day because I believe so strongly in leadership, what I look for first, what I try to assess, is integrity.

Obama is a man of first-class intellect and first-class temperament. But his character remains highly suspect.

Everyone tries to define this thing called Character. It's not hard. Character is doing what's right when nobody's looking.