Henry Van Dyke Quotes

You should not do an autobiography if you want to tell the truth. There are a lot of things I know about people. If I can't say something good about a person, I don't want to say anything. And since I don't want to say anything bad, I won't write a book.

Moral authority comes from following universal and timeless principles like honesty, integrity, treating people with respect.

Character in leadership is the most important balance for leadership. Without character, leaders have no safety. Leadership has no protection without character.

Because of lack of moral principle, human life becomes worthless. Moral principle, truthfulness, is a key factor. If we lose that, then there is no future.

Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.

Honesty is a good thing, but it is not profitable to its possessor unless it is kept under control.

My parents were pretty lenient with me. But, they gave me morality while I was growing up. They taught me the difference between right and wrong.

The important things are children, honesty, integrity and faith.

The important thing is to do the right thing. Then credibility will follow.

The foundation for moral leadership is the truth.

Every night I go over what I did in the day, in ethical or moral terms. Have I treated people properly? Did I tell the truth?

Never lie to your mother. That's like the biggest lesson that I learned, learned throughout my life, you know?

I learned one thing in Watergate: I was well-intentioned but rationalized illegal behavior. You cannot live your life other than walking in the truth. Your means are as important as your ends.

I follow three rules: Do the right thing, do the best you can, and always show people you care.

When you're going into an employment environment that looks pretty scary, it is easy to lose your moral compass, your decency, your sense of civility and your sense of community.

And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values, like you work hard for what you want in life. That your word is your bond; that you do what you say you're going to do. That you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them and even if you don't agree with them.

I talk every day about doing the right thing.

Most people are not good people. In business, in art, in almost every 'world' I've been in, most people I've meet are pretty gray to black. It takes practice to be the person who is a source of compassion and honesty.

Character matters; leadership descends from character.

If you give people the opportunity to do the right thing, you'll rarely be disappointed.

If we do what we think is right, not try to point-score, people will begin to trust us.

As long as I'm a good person and I do things from the heart, that's all that matters.

It is straightforward for me to be ethical, responsible, and kind-hearted because I have the resources to support that.

Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained.

Trust should be the basis for all our moral training.