Antonio Villaraigosa Quotes

Cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But conscience asks the question, is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.

That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong.

Leadership is about doing what you know is right - even when a growing din of voices around you is trying to convince you to accept what you know to be wrong.

It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.

There comes a time when you have to stand up and be counted.

To operate based on conviction and belief requires an acceptance that your actions could get you fired. This is different from pig-headed bravado, and it is different from putting the company at risk.

What distinguishes the majority of men from the few is their ability to act according to their beliefs.

You show people what you're willing to fight for when you fight your friends.

Everyone tries to define this thing called Character. It's not hard. Character is doing what's right when nobody's looking.

I think people are hungry for someone who will stand up on principle.

If you strongly believe something is wrong, you must speak up and stand by what you say.

It is not easy to stand up against your constituents or your friends or colleagues or your community and take a tough stand for something you believe is right. Because you always want to keep working and live to fight another battle and it might cost you your career.

There are times in politics when you must be on the right side and lose.

A leader does not deserve the name unless he is willing occasionally to stand alone.

A man of conviction is often more to be desired than a man of experience.

I came into office to do what was correct, not to see what was politically expedient to get re-elected.

Peace if possible, truth at all costs.

But our leaders of today have decided it's more important to be popular, to say and do what's easy, and say yes rather than to say no, when no is what is required.

So I'm just waiting until one party or the other actually gets a moral compass and a backbone.

Political courage is not political suicide.

The time has come for all good men to rise above principle.

I think that if you make a strong statement of principle, even if the folks disagree with you, people will respect you for it.

What the American people want to see in their president is somebody who not necessarily can win every fight, but they want to see him stand up and fight for what he believes, take his case to the American people.

I understand everybody in this country doesn't agree with the decisions I've made. And I made some tough decisions. But people know where I stand.

There are things you stand up for because it's right.