Joel Stein Quotes

He that abuses his own profession will not patiently bear with any one else who does so. And this is one of our most subtle operations of self-love. For when we abuse our own profession, we tacitly except ourselves; but when another abuses it, we are far from being certain that this is the case.

Ethical and responsible behavior needs to become the cornerstone of corporate behavior

Strong ethics keep corporations healthy . Poor ethics make companies sick. Values are the immune system of every organisation.

If a business is not ethical, it will fail, perhaps not right away but eventually.

I believe no amount of business school training or work experience can teach what is ultimately a matter of personal character. Businesses are not dishonest or greedy, people are. Thus, a business, successful or not, is merely a reflection of the character of its leadership.

In matters of business, no woman stops at integrity.

In every company which I have done strategic planning, the number-one value people choose is always integrity. The second values may be quality of products and services, caring about people, excellent customer service, profitability , innovation, entrepreneurship, and others. But integrity always comes first.

Plunder is morally wrong. It ruins your credibility.

Corruption never has been compulsory; when the cities lie at the monster's feet there are left the mountains.

The study of law is valuable as a mental discipline, but the practice of pleading tends to make one petty, formal, and insincere. To be driven to look to legality rather than to equity blurs the view of truth and justice.

I will say that I don't expect anybody to do anything that makes them feel uncomfortable. Or makes them feel like they're putting themselves in a bad position with their job.

Integrity is hard work. I do think the Internet makes it harder because of the temptations of performance. You can perform and have integrity, but it's easier just to perform.

You only have one thing in business, and that is your reputation

Our profession is good, if practiced in the spirit of it; it is damnable fraud and iniquity when its true spirit is supplied by a spirit of mischief-making and money catching.

It’s pretty simple, the ethical life. It’s just demanding.

Fundamentally, the force that rules the world is conduct, whether it be moral or immoral. If it is moral, at least there may be hope for the world. If immoral, there is not only no hope, but no prospect of anything but destruction of all that has been accomplished during the last 5,000 years.

I have nothing else to say other than I wasn't corrupt, unfair, or greedy. I was smart when it came to making decisions for my company, and I wasn't greedy. I gave to others in charity and donated money to fund programs. I have nothing else to say.

Those who are most moral are farthest from the problem.

Liberal education develops a sense of right, duty and honor; and more and more in the modern world, large business rests on rectitude and honor as well as on good judgment.

He who defines his conduct by ethics imprisons his song-bird in a cage.

Honorable industry always travels the same road with enjoyment and duty, and progress is altogether impossible without it.

In point of morals, the average woman is, even for business, too crooked.

One of the key problems of the business world is that greed has become culturally acceptable.

And that whole do-able/undo-able thing? Yeah. Need I point out that neither Ruth nor I have ever "done" anybody in our lives?

You know, there's a right and wrong way to do everything.