Alicia Garza Quotes

When I came into office, I could have kicked the can down the road for a little while, or I could do the right thing.

You have to be responsible when you're running an organization, and firing people who are your friends is part of that responsibility.

Even if the exercise of my responsibility becomes my burden, I’ll bear it. But I can tell you I am going to sleep well tonight knowing I’ve made the right decision.

As a leader, you get a pat on the back when you make a hard choice.

Especially when you're a leader, you have to do the things that aren't the popular choice. But that's fine, you have to be able to make those decisions, without a doubt.

To me, leadership has always been about doing what's right. Because when you've had to write your blood type on your boots, you aren't afraid to make the right calls.

Difficult times require difficult decisions. But supporting this bill shouldn't be a difficult decision.

I want to tell you ladies and gentlemen, the actions that we took were not always easy. The actions that we took were not always popular. But when you get yourself in public office, you must lead, you must do what's necessary.

But our leaders of today have decided it's more important to be popular, to say and do what's easy, and say yes rather than to say no, when no is what is required.

People know that I'm going to do what's right.

We were elected to lead and sometimes we just have to do the right thing.

We don't possess this job and this job doesn't possess us. We have to make some very tough decisions. If it means falling on the sword, it means falling on the sword.

You've got to do what's right, or what you think is right. And you've got to make tough decisions. And you've got to be willing to take on your friends when you disagree with them.

What comes into the Oval Office are not the good or easy decisions. The easy decisions are made elsewhere. The things that make it to the Oval are always the hard ones.

Oftentimes the easy decision and comfortable decision is not the right one.

Leadership is not a contest of likeability. Leadership often boils down to making the tougher choices. You are not in a popularity contest.

The Profile in Courage Award recognizes elected officials who choose to do what is right, not what is easy, so that we might learn from their example. Each time we give the award, we bear witness to the past for the sake of the future.

Sometimes standing up for things that are right makes things tougher.

Sometimes, you have to take a stand; you cannot make everyone happy.

It is not easy to stand up against your constituents or your friends or colleagues or your community and take a tough stand for something you believe is right. Because you always want to keep working and live to fight another battle and it might cost you your career.

Leadership is about doing what you know is right - even when a growing din of voices around you is trying to convince you to accept what you know to be wrong.

It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.

A leader does not deserve the name unless he is willing occasionally to stand alone.

There comes a time when you have to stand up and be counted.

I think the greater responsibility, in terms of morality, is where leadership begins.