Values-Based Decision Making Quotes

I don't do a lot of collaborations that I don't believe in. Actually, I don't do any collaborations that I don't believe in.

In the 17 years since I graduated from this great College of Law, I have seen that, for many of us, it becomes increasingly easy to rationalize our actions in the name of expediency when facing difficult decisions-to choose a path where the ends justify the means. I want to ask you to challenge Machiavelli's philosophy. I want to humbly suggest that you be the guardians of a more complicated truth: that the means are as important-and sometimes even more important-than the ends.

There have been, in my life, a number of times when I have intentionally made decisions that I knew would mean I would make less money or be less influential. I did this because, for whatever reason, it just wasn't worth it. It wasn't worth the stress, it felt icky, it relied on me exploiting relationships that I valued. Stuff like that.

If you're operating from strong principles, you can compromise when the person on the other side is operating from principles you respect.

Principles do not mainly influence even the principled; we talk on principle, but we act on interest.

I don't endorse products, only actions and beliefs.

I have people coming to me with endorsements all the time. I've turned down endorsements well over $1 million because I didn't like the company.

You must consider the bottom line, but make it integrity before profits.

Broken people misuse their power while people who have values don't use their powers in a way that harms.

Imagine choosing a job not on money or even on career advancement, but as part of a life worth living.

Your policy should be a mixture between your interests and how you reach your ends, but based on values. It cannot be only the end justifies the means, because for the criminals, ends justify the means, for thieves, for every illegal and immoral action, the end justifies the means.

Whereas any political party, and nearly all voters, prize consistency as a sign of authentic, values-driven thinking, it is deeply alien to the hacker, who holds that changing your mind is simply intelligence in action.