Standing Up for Principles Quotes

I have always been of the opinion that unpopularity earned by doing what is right is not unpopularity at all, but glory.

Doing what is right in the face of adversity is not always easy or popular. Critics may assail you, but the critics don't always realize what they don't know or don't understand, because they don't have access to all the information.

You try to force me to do a dishonorable act, contrary to the law as I see it, and against my conscience, and rather than do your bidding I'll suffer my right arm torn from the socket.... I regard you as a damn villain, and get out of my office, or, damn you, I'll kick you out.

Every man of character will have that character questioned. Every man of honor and courage will be faced with unjust criticism, but never forget that unjust criticism has no impact whatsoever upon the truth. And the only sure way to avoid criticism is to do nothing and be nothing.

I fight for what I believe. If you are not willing to stand up for what you believe, your beliefs are not strong enough.

Men acquiesce in a thousand things, once righteously and boldly done, to which, if proposed to them in advance, they might find endless objections.

Winston Churchill was willing to tell the people what they didn’t want to hear, and pay the political price for it…. That kind of leadership we don’t seem to have anymore.

Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent characteristic in men

I was thinking of resigning since I did not want to be perceived as a man who did the president's bidding to save my job. I have had some time to think about it since. I think I did the right thing.

I wouldn't back away from what's right just because it's hard.

The toughest thing to do in politics is to do the right thing when your supporters think the right thing is something else.

My role isn't to be politically smart. My role is to do what's right under the constitution. And if that's politically unpopular, so be it.

Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error.

I'm proud of my record of reform, taking on my own party.

If Republicans are going in the wrong direction, I am still willing to stand up against them.

I guess taking a stand is valid for a commentator. But that's not what I am.

I voted against my party with some frequency, because of my independence. I've just got to remind Missourians that I am independent and that I try to call them like I see them, and sometimes my party is wrong on some things.

The number of Pelosi allies who have come to me and told me to back off, that I'm not doing the right thing, is exactly zero. The number of members of the caucus who voted for her, who have checked to see who was listening and then patted me on the back and then said, 'Keep going Seth, you're doing the right thing,' is literally dozens.

We've got to force the Democrats to get a spine. If they don't want to have a spine, we should throw them out. If they don't want to stand up for the rule of law, then I'm not a Democrat.

You need to have people within your own party that have the wherewithal to stand up to you.

Too many politicians are so worried about getting re-elected that they fear taking an unpopular position. I don't.

My parents are all people who have taken a stand for what they believe in over and over again. That to me is a fine example - even if I disagreed with some of their choices.

A President is best judged by the enemies he makes when he has really hit his stride.

Parliament is a tribal place. So the most difficult thing is to be labelled disloyal, even if you think you are standing up for a principle. The rejection is quite strong.

Some guy refuses to fight and we call that the sin, but he's standing up for what he believes in and that seems pretty damned American to me.