James Madison Quotes

I suspect that with men like General Petraeus, where honor means something - losing your life is secondary to losing your honor.

Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards.

Character is the indelible mark that determines the only true value of all people and all their work.

A man whose life has been dishonorable is not entitled to escape disgrace in death.

You know, at the end of the day, the only thing you have is trust and honor in this world. That's all you have. All you have is your reputation built on trust and your personal honor. When you don't have that anymore, well, you know, there you go. Trust was broken.

I still had some honor... I still have some now.

You can be deprived of your money, your job and your home by someone else, but remember that no one can ever take away your honor.

To those whose God is honor; only disgrace is a sin.

When all is said and done the only thing you'll have left is your character.

I would not do anything to besmirch my reputation any further than it has already been.

Let them hate me, provided they respect my conduct.

When I severe my connections with the A.I.A. I do so with my own self respect, as a matter of pride and I am sure within your knowledge of my character.

I'd like to be known for my character.

Fame and success and titles stay with you, but they wear out eventually. In the end, all that you are left with is your character.

They're the last human beings susceptible to human shame. Politicians are the only people left for whom, occasionally, shame hurts them. Everyone else, we've sort of done away with it as a concept, and we're hurtling through space like animals, basically.

Honor has not to be won; it must only not be lost.

I've had to take a lot of stick down the years but the one thing that really got to me was when someone questioned my integrity. It's the one thing that really grates with you.

Live never to be ashamed if anything you say or do is published around the world, even if what is said is not true.

You may depend upon it that he is a good man whose intimate friends are all good, and whose enemies are decidedly bad.

What is left when honor is lost?

We can live our own lives in a way that does not bring reproach on the principles we claim to support.

I'm more interested in being good than being famous.

Now, my father Matthias was not only eminent on account of is nobility, but had a higher commendation on account of his righteousness, and was in great reputation in Jerusalem, the greatest city we have.

Honor is but an empty bubble.

I would give no thought of what the world might say of me, if I could only transmit to posterity the reputation of an honest man.