Ronald Kessler Quotes

Accountability goes hand in hand with reform.

At the state level, we must take a careful look at what went wrong and make sure it never happens again. The buck stops here, and as your governor, I take full responsibility.

If it takes talking about unpleasant truths to change Washington, then so be it.

History has shown that one cannot legislate a culture of integrity. And yet, one of the paramount responsibilities and challenges of corporate leadership is to ensure such a culture.

If you want to change the culture, you will have to start by changing the organization.

Quite as important as legislation is vigilant oversight of administration; and even more important than legislation is the instruction and guidance in political affairs which the people might receive from a body which kept all national concerns suffused in a broad daylight of discussion .... The informing functions of Congress should be preferred even to its legislative function. The argument is not only that a discussed and interrogated administration is the only pure and efficient administration, but, more than that, that the only really self-governing people is that people which discusses and interrogates its administration.

I am not on trial here, Mr. Chairman. This committee is on trial here before the American people. Let us get that straight.

Truth is the glue that holds government together. Compromise is the oil that makes governments go.

The truth is the only thing that will move society forwards.

It takes time for people to understand how to hold leaders accountable.

We have to reform the entire political process. It's got to start with leadership by example.

Telling the truth is always revolutionary

In order to do vigorous oversight, the leadership of the intelligence community has got to be straight with the American people and straight with the Congress. For there to be vigorous oversight, the intelligence community's got to be straight with the American people and the Congress and that has not been the case.

If there is not competent Opposition, the government that comes to power won't have anyone to hold them accountable.

People are starving for truth and leadership.

I think having a visionary CEO is awesome, and visionary leadership is one thing, but you also need checks and balances on whether this company can withstand a very honest and critical look at itself.

I will say this about the truth - that it's one of those crisis rules, whether you are a client or someone who's living their life just every day - is that the truth has a funny way of not going away, and telling the truth is extremely important in dealing with any problem or crisis.

It's absolutely right that we scrutinise the leaders who after all are going to be in a position of great power.

Those who voted for Vicente Fox endorsed his call for change - better economic management, less crime, and less corruption - and they expect him to deliver.

A single person doesn't change an organization, but culture and good people do.

People elect me to make sure the chief of police is the right chief of police. They elect me to make sure I have the right person running the airport.

The organization reflects the behavior and characteristics of the CEO, and that establishes the culture. Foster an environment of open communication, and the organization inherits a culture of open communication.

There has to be active, hands-on management in concert with the manager to lead the organization and make sure that the standards that we set for the organization as a whole are being lived up to.

If we are going to ask questions of the defensive guys, then we are going to ask questions of the guys at the top end as well.

Every manager feels a responsibility to his board of directors and the public and the players.