Bret Stephens Quotes

It's hard to know now who, if anyone, in the media has any credibility.

I think a lot about something: Abe Rosenthal was once asked what he wanted on his headstone, and he said he wanted it just to say, 'He kept the paper straight.' And I think about that a lot.

Ratings don't last. Good journalism does.

If I were less than honest as a critic, I think people would spot that right away, and it would destroy my credibility.

I will not be misquoted!

I have always been honest about my recollection of events.

If there's anything that's important to a reporter, it is integrity. It is credibility.

Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.

If we were to abandon concern for what is true, what is false, and what remains indeterminate, the world would be totally chaotic. Even those who deny the importance of truth, on the one hand, are quick to jump on anyone who is caught lying.

I think all good reporting is the same thing - the best attainable version of the truth.

Any journalist worth his or her salt wouldn't trust me.

The fact that a man is a newspaper reporter is evidence of some flaw in character.

Trust is the most important aspect of being a journalist. If people don't trust or find you relatable - you will not have success.

I feel a responsibility for telling the truth.

I tell the truth. That's my training as a reporter.

We are trained to distinguish between journalism that's short and long, that's responsible and irresponsible, that stands for the right values and stands for the wrong.

Listen: women lie, men lie, but numbers don't lie, guy.

I'm not in the business of being 'friendly.' First and foremost, I'm a journalist. My business is the truth. Now, I happen to be other things, too - a pop-culture phenomenon, the most in-demand speaker on the campus lecture circuit, whatever. But I believe in facts.

Anyone who doesn't take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either.

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.

No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.

I am bound to tell what I am told, but not in every case to believe it.

Trust has to be earned, and should come only after the passage of time.

The scientist only imposes two things, namely truth and sincerity, imposes them upon himself and upon other scientists.

Both politicians and journalists face situations which strain their honesty and humanity. My opinion is that politicians on the average stand up somewhat better than journalists.