John Adams Quotes

I do not believe I have the mental attitude or the politician's manner ... I am too sensitive to political mud.

Integrity means you do what you do because it is right and not just fashionable or politically correct.

A bad conscience is easier to cope with than a bad reputation.

Some things are right, whether nobody sees you doing them or not.

A politician's goal is always to manipulate public debate. I think there are some politicians with higher goals. But all of them get corrupted by power.

I think anyone who doesn't say that they'd like people to think that they're doing the right thing is wrong. I mean, I'd like it to be that way, but I've never allowed it to influence my actions.

I don't claim any moral or ethical high ground, but I also have chosen not to run for public office. Shouldn't there be a higher standard of conduct for public officials?

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

When you cover politics, you realize that knowing how to talk about character matters more and more. The way we hold ideas is more important than the ideas.

Ethics are not necessarily to do with being law-abiding. I am very interested in the moral path, doing the right thing.

Perhaps the surest test of an individual's integrity is his refusal to do or say anything that would damage his self-respect.

It is far more important to me to preserve an unblemished conscience than to compass any object however great.

Upon common theaters … the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own approbation. But upon the stage of life, while conscience claps, let the world hiss! …. If conscience disapproves, the loudest applause of the world are of little value.

Certainly he [Richard M. Nixon] is not of the generation that regards honesty as the best policy.

I suppose that an honest man shines more in politics than he does elsewhere.

It is not true that people of high principle are ill-suited for politics.

Most millennials have no problem standing their ground when asked to do something that conflicts with their personal values.

I don't want to regret doing something that I don't believe in.

I was taught growing up that you always do what you believe.

I've seen too many celebrities fall from their morals, and I wanna come up under that and be THAT girl that doesn't need a scandal to make herself look better.

Great leaders have no need for reputation. Reputation is what you are in public. Character is who you are in private.

Men are guided less by conscience than by glory; and yet the shortest way to glory is to be guided by conscience.

If there's one value that is immutable, it's integrity or respect, for others and for yourself.

Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains, rather than do an immoral act.

A good conscience is eight parts of courage.