David Crockett Quotes

I'm never concerned about my beliefs hurting me in any way. I'd rather lose a job than have to lie.

Standing for truth is everything. Truth is power. Don't ever forget that.

I think that people need to have the courage of their convictions and not be trying to fool people into thinking that they've changed overnight.

One never knows whether people have principles on principle or whether for their own personal satisfaction.

I pray to God that I shall not live one hour after I have thought of using deception.

Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.

A life in politics is for people who know themselves and know where their own line is between loyalty and honesty.

Don’t put yourself in a situation where you will not be able to achieve your ideals without violating them.

I will not change my beliefs to win votes. I will offer a choice, not an echo.

Robert Taft—A Leader Who Said Only What He Thought Was Right, And Had The Courage To Say It

I will not be a liar, a poltroon, or a hypocrite, to accommodate any party, to gratify any sect, to escape any odium or peril, to save any interest, to preserve any institution, or to promote any object.

Winston Churchill was willing to tell the people what they didn’t want to hear, and pay the political price for it…. That kind of leadership we don’t seem to have anymore.

Leadership is not manifested by coercion, even against the resented. Greatness is not manifested by unlimited pragmatism, which places such a high premium on the end justifying any means and any methods.

When it was not very comfortable, politically, for me, I said things which lots of people didn't like, some of them may have liked. I said my beliefs, my truth, and my convictions, and that's how I am going to continue to do in the future.

I think people are hungry for someone who will stand up on principle.

I will never say something I don't agree with or believe in... even if the reward is massive!

I would rather be beaten and be a man than to be elected and be a little puppy dog. I have always supported measures and principles and not men. I have acted fearless[ly] and independent and I never will regret my course. I would rather be politically buried than to be hypocritically immortalized.

There is nothing so inconvenient in this world as an absolutely truthful person, who can both speak and write, and has the courage of his convictions. One can always arrange matters with liars ... But with the man or woman who holds truth dearer than life, and honor more valuable than advancement, there is nothing to be done, now that governments cannot insist on the hemlock-cure, as in the case of Socrates.

And what, incidentally, do you think integrity is? The ability not to pick a watch out of your neighbor's pocket? No, it's not as easy as that. If that were all, I'd say ninety-five percent of humanity were honest, upright men. Only, as you can see, they aren't. Integrity is the ability to stand by an idea.

If the truth is worth telling, it is worth making a fool of yourself to tell it.

I take no actions that I wouldn't publicly recount. If you can't speak your deeds, then don't do them.

I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year's fashions, even though I long ago came to the conclusion that I was not a political person and could have no comfortable place in any political group.

He who has truth at his heart need never fear the want of persuasion on his tongue.

A rational man never distorts or corrupts his own standards and judgment in order to appeal to the irrationality, stupidity, or dishonesty of others.

I think values are really, really important, but I also think that too many values are just words.