Arnold I. Burns Quotes

I'm not sure I can say there is a clean line between me as an individual and me as a lawyer.

I have an obligation to the people of Illinois, to the Senate and to myself to leave the Senate while I am still eager to serve, not after I tire of serving.

There are no client conflicts, only bad explanations.

In the Army, I grew up with this view that you're asked to do anything that is illegal or immoral or unethical, then that would be the point at which you have to consider resignation, and you'd be willing to do that.

A time comes when silence is betrayal.

I have impeached myself by resigning.

I would never sacrifice my individual beliefs as a citizen to my corporate responsibilities.

When your conscience says law is immoral, don't follow it.

Someone needs to tell the truth, but it shouldn't be my job.

I had no concerns - I had no reason to have concerns based on what was available to me about North's contacts with the private sector people, but I didn't think a CIA person should do it.

Good men must not obey the laws too well.

I think that if there are positions that you can't argue... then the responsibility is probably to resign. If one's own conscience is opposed to the requirements and responsibilities of the job, then it's time to leave the job.

Who can protest and does not, is an accomplice in the act.

I know that in my public life I fell below the standards that I had set myself... I have seen what is wrong but not done enough to put it right. I have been more critical than correct.

How do you defend inaction in the face of crisis? How is that defensible for anybody?

If you see fraud and do not say fraud, you are a fraud.

There have been times throughout American history where what is right is not the same as what is legal. Sometimes to do the right thing you have to break the law.

Those whose conscience demands that they defy authority in some ways that involve great consequences must be willing to accept some penalty.

It is true that all of us are the beneficiaries of crimes committed by our ancestors, and it is true that nothing can be done about that now because the victims are dead and the survivors are innocent. These are good reasons for keeping our mouths shut about the past: but tell me, what are our reasons for silence about atrocities still to come?

Knowing what I do, there would be no future peace for me if I kept silent.

Stepping back, just being in my little Stoicism Susan bubble, if what people know you for is bringing light to an issue about bad behavior, about bad stuff going on and laws not being followed and people being treated inappropriately, why wouldn't I want that? That's a badge of honor.

Reviewing a book written by someone you're living with and sleeping with is, needless to say, wrong.

As an actor, you're always in situations that can be compromising. But you can wipe away that gray area by making a choice.

Every man of character will have that character questioned. Every man of honor and courage will be faced with unjust criticism, but never forget that unjust criticism has no impact whatsoever upon the truth. And the only sure way to avoid criticism is to do nothing and be nothing.

There comes a time when a moral man can't obey a law which his conscience tells him is unjust.