Bret Stephens Quotes

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?

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.

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

...it's so hard to find men of a so high type of morals that they'll stay bought.

I try to act as a man of character if no one is watching or if the world is watching.

My moral compass is strong.

Would that the simple maxim, that honesty is the best policy, might be laid to heart; that a sense of the true aim of life might elevate the tone of politics and trade till public and private honor become identical.

The higher the building the lower the morals.

A woman of honor should never suspect another of things she would not do herself.

I thank God that I left office the same way I came in: with integrity.

A man should be upright, not be kept upright.

Prefer a loss to a dishonest gain; the one brings pain at the moment, the other for all time.

My father taught me that you have to stand by your principles.

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.

A task becomes a duty from the moment you suspect it to be an essential part of that integrity which alone entitles a man to assume responsibility.

Men of integrity, by their very existence, rekindle the belief that as a people we can live above the level of moral squalor. We need that belief; a cynical community is a corrupt community.

Character is much easier kept than recovered.

Conscience is the sentinel of virtue.

I think a man becomes less than a man when he begins to compromise on what he believes is right.

The person that loses their conscience has nothing left worth keeping.

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.

Character is long-standing habit.

To keep your character intact you cannot stoop to filthy acts. It makes it easier to stoop the next time.

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