William Bennett Quotes

It is impossible that a man who is false to his friends and neighbors should be true to the public.

In public politics as in private life, character is better than brains, and loyalty more valuable than either.

Moral character has now some influence in our elections, but not that place which it deserves. The law of public opinion excludes confirmed sots, and persons judicially convicted of high crimes and misdemeanors against the State; but it ought to render the election of all profane swearers, notorious Sabbath breakers, seducers, slanderers, prodigals and riotous persons, as well as the advocates of dueling, impracticable.

When you send a clerk on business to a distant province, a man of rigid morals is not your best choice.

Just because you put a guy in a tuxedo doesn't make him a good guy.

One of the biggest things you have is your reputation and your reputation with knowing what's good and what's not good.

I am an honest, straight guy.

I'm just in an unfortunate business where if you ask me a question I have to answer it honestly and if I don't answer it truthfully then I'm not respected.

I thank God that I left office the same way I came in: with integrity.

If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters.

That's what I'd like to think that my reputation is - being honest.

Only men of character are trusted.

Without question, the single most important attribute of a successful entrepreneur is integrity. And that's not some philosophical or theoretical malarkey; it's hard-nosed fact.

Honesty is the cornerstone of all success, without which confidence and ability to perform shall cease to exist.

Honesty and integrity are by far the most important assets of an entrepreneur.

Honesty is very sexy.

If there is honesty in your face, the battle is won. It doesn't have to be the most beautiful face in the world. The audience can relate to you then. They feel love, not lust, for you.

I think that that integrity is something that is important to voters.

The people I've been exposed to have been people of amazing integrity.

I'm not a bad guy. People who know me know who I am.

I would rather have honesty and character than prestige and wealth. I can walk and ride the streets of this city, hold my head up, and look all men in the face.

Public business … must always be done by somebody…. If wise men decline it, others will not; if honest men refuse it, others will not.

Credibility is not a renewable resource in Washington.

Is he honest? Is he capable? Is he faithful to the Constitution?

I have the ablest staff that ever served any President in my memory. There's not a playboy among them. They aren't sitting around drinking whiskey at 11 o'clock at night. They aren't walking around with their zippers unbuttoned.