Donella Meadows Quotes

When the Lord Chancellor violates the trust of his great office of state to solicit party donations from people whose careers he can control, and then says I'm not sorry, and I'd do it again no wonder the public think that power has gone to their heads.

When people in positions of trust mislead us - either recklessly, negligently or intentionally - that impacts the republic.

Whether I'm reading a national publication or one of my local Chicago newspapers, I don't need to turn too many pages before I stumble upon another scandal. Not only do ethics violations deteriorate the public trust, but they also disrupt and undermine legitimate debate and policy.

If a man breaks a pledge, the public ought to know it.

Those who corrupt the public mind are just as evil as those who steal from the public purse.

In this administration, a place can be found for every bad man.

Lying, stealing, and cheating are commonplace.

A thief is more moral than a congressman; when a thief steals your money, he doesn't demand you thank him.

Bill Clinton is the most corrupt, the most amoral, the most despicable person I've ever seen in the presidency.

Sweep from the nation’s capitol that foul blot upon our nation.

They lied, they cheated, they stole, they had the power to do it and they did.

President [George W.] Bush is a liar. He betrayed Nevada and he betrayed the country... All Americans should be concerned, not just because he lied to me or the people of Nevada and indeed all Americans, but because the President's decision threatens Americans' lives.

None of us is pure or without flaw, but when those flaws damage the institution of the Senate, it is time to have the grace to go. But Senator [Robert W.] Packwood has chosen to do the opposite. He has chosen to stay in spite of the continuing damage he is doing.

The public, by and large, trusts its leaders not only to tell the truth, but to get the job done. When they don’t get the job done, they get punished, and when they don’t get the job done and it comes out that they lied, they’re in really serious trouble. This is what happened to [Lyndon] Johnson and it’s what happened to [George W,] Bush. If you’re going to tell a lie, make sure the policy works out.

He [William Clinton] has terrible trouble with the truth. I don’t think Presidents should have trouble with the truth.

For Clinton, I don't see redemption. She is a corrupt political operative of the worst kind.

It is now clear that the president violated both his oath of office and the oath he took to tell the truth. In doing so, Bill Clinton not only committed perjury, he violated the public trust.

If a politician takes a bribe to do what he thinks would have been best for the public anyway, he still goes to jail. If he's president, under a Constitution that refers to impeachment specifically for 'bribery,' as well other 'high crimes and misdemeanors,' he should still be removed.

Right here at home, we have seen what happens when a politician breaks that public trust, when they are dishonest and corrupt.

You will continue to read stories of crookedness and corruption - of policemen who lie and steal, doctors who reap where they do not sew, politicians on the take. Don't be misled. They are news because they are the exceptions.

But Bill Clinton had the good taste to lie about his sexual peccadillos. He had the honor and the decency to want to cover it up.

I do myself a greater injury in lying than I do him of whom I tell a lie.

Spying among friends is never acceptable.

I think all politicians lie.

Kennedy lied and lied about his health while he was alive, even using his father's influence to get into the Navy without ever taking a medical examination.