Thomas Barrett Quotes

When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.

If you grew too fond of public life it might exact compromises even if finances were not involved.

No public character has ever stood the revelation of private utterance and correspondence.

It does take courage to be in public life.

Don’t do or say things you would not like to see on the front page of the Washington Post.

You never want to do anything that you don't want your mother to see, because it will haunt you and eventually come back to bite you!

It's a big challenge for me to keep my integrity and some of my privacy intact.

I am disappointed that my 25 years in public life have apparently not earned me the benefit of the doubt, but I understand that Senator Mitchell's report has raised many serious questions. I plan to publicly answer all of those questions at the appropriate time in the appropriate way. I only ask that in the meantime people not rush to judgment.

I try to stay in line and not be a jerk. I've always been conscious that if I really screw up, people might notice.

You know, when you're in public life, everything you do is out there. But I am proud to stand on my record.

The trust that goes with public service is a heavy burden on those who would lead us.

When I watched what public life in Washington is like these days, I concluded that I didn't want it ... the whole climate of public service—that every day you've got to expect a negative story.

I am the only public servant and the only Mexican President ever who has made his finances public from before, during, and after public service.

Pubic business must be done. It will be done one way or another. If wise men refuse it, others will not. If honest men refuse it, others will not.

We all make mistakes. In public life, we make them in public view.

Even if you had the wherewithal to embarrass a reporter, there was no mechanism to do it. And in most cases, you might as well save your breath because the reporter had no shame anyway.

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.

Tell the truth.

It doesn't worry me what anyone says, except when publicity hurts others.

If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place.

Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.

Today, more than ever, citizens demand with good reason that moral and ethical principles be upheld and that exemplariness preside over our public life. And the king, as the head of state, must not only be an example but also a servant to that just and legitimate demand of the citizens.

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

You have to assume that everything you do is public knowledge. Everything. Because now everyone is a reporter. Everyone is a photographer.

I hate to spoil my own prospects, but I really don't respect the kiss-and-tell approach to public life at all, not at all.