Joseph Brodsky Quotes

Your friend is intellectually honourable," Jimmy's mother would say. "He doesn't lie to himself.

I think character is real important. And you know, and I think the public does.

A man of honour should never forget what he is because he sees what others are.

I know I'm a good person.

You're gutless. It's how you were made. And that's not such a bad thing because your saving grace is that you've never lied to yourself about it. Not about that. Nothing wrong with cowardice as long as it comes with prudence. But when a coward stops remembering who he is... God help him.

Every one suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.

Men must be honest with themselves before they can be honest with others. A man who is not honest with himself presents a hopeless case.

I do not tell lies. Mother used to say that this was because I was a good person. But it is not because I am a good person. It is because I do not tell lie.

There's nothing harder than going on TV and saying something that you don't believe. I don't do that anymore.

The true measure of a man is what he would do if he knew he would never be caught.

In this business, it's easy for either your heart or your head to be swayed, and I try to always stay true to who I am.

I'm actually a very moral guy.

I've long since stopped worrying about how I'm portrayed in the press because ultimately it's not that important. Everyone who knows me knows I do what I do with the greatest integrity.

Do I get up every morning and ask: am I doing the things that I believe in and am I doing them for the best possible motives? Yes. Unambiguously yes.

I'm incredibly articulate, thoughtful and moral, and I think about what I do. I want to be known for doing something good.

Some persons are likeable in spite of their unswerving integrity.

In a way, I'd rather go into an interview and be disliked, and have unpleasant things written about me, than to have a wonderful, glowing article written that is in no way a reflection of who I am.

The man who cannot endure to have his errors and shortcomings brought to the surface and made known, but tries to hide them, is unfit to walk the highway of truth.

Be as you wish to seem.

Do your best when no one is looking. If you do that, then you can be successful in anything that you put your mind to.

I think I have character, and that is what people like in me.

You have to keep a strong sense of who you really are - and I have a pretty strong sense of myself. It gets me in trouble when I say this, but I don't think of myself as a politician. I've always tried to be honest when communicating with people.

Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity.

You know, there's nothing you can do about your public image. It is what it is. I just try to do things honestly. I guess honesty is what you would call subjective: if you feel good about what you're doing, yourself, if you figure you're doing the right thing.

Values are principles and ideas that bring meaning to the seemingly mundane experience of life. A meaningful life that ultimately brings happiness and pride requires you to respond to temptations as well as challenges with honor, dignity, and courage.