Sam Rayburn Quotes

The district that is best represented is the district that is wise enough to select a man of energy, intelligence, and integrity and reelects him year after year.

Character is the only secure foundation of the state.

Leadership is much less about what you do, and much more about who you are. If you view leadership as a bag of manipulative tricks or charismatic behaviors to advance your own personal interest, then people have every right to be cynical. But if your leadership flows first and foremost from inner character and integrity of ambition, then you can justly ask people to lend themselves to your organization and its mission.

It isn't polls or public opinion at the moment that counts. It is right and wrong and leadership--men with fortitude, honesty, and a belief in the right that makes epochs in the history of the world.

We can be wise from goodness and good from wisdom.

She began to see that character is a better possession than money, rank, intellect, or beauty, and to feel that if greatness is what a wise man has defined it to be, 'truth, reverence, and good will,' then her friend Friedrich Bhaer was not only good, but great.

A wise man who stands firm is a statesman, a foolish man who stands firm is a catastrophe.

When we lack integrity, we use power to control. When we lead with integrity, we use power to bless.

Leading with character gives the wise leader clear-cut advantages. They are easier to trust and follow; they honor commitments and promises; their words and behavior match; they are always engaged in and by the world; they are open to "reflective backtalk": they can speak with conviction because they believe in what they are saying...and everyone else knows that. They are comfortable in their own skin. They feel at ease in the spotlight and they enjoy it there. They tend to be more receptive to opportunity and risk.

Character in many ways is everything in leadership. It is made up of many things, but I would say character is really integrity.

For never, never, wicked man was wise.

Deep are the foundations of sincerity. Even stone walls have their foundation below the frost.

Integrity is the value we set on ourselves.

Acting-wise, I've had all these experiences. Yet when I look at certain people whose careers I admire, they've gotten to play so many different characters. So it's just that - getting to have more of these singular little adventures where you get to be a part of a completely different world.

It is not enough to know what is good: you must be able to do it.

It is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions.

I've always believed leaders don't ask others to do what they're unwilling to do.

Godly character flows out of devotion to God and practically confirms the reality of that devotion.

Highs and lows make you feel that things matter, but they're nothing." "So what's something?" "Being reliable is something. Being good.

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise.

Success is more permanent when you achieve it without destroying your principles.

Boy Scouts does very well in making Scouts aware of character and integrity and … virtues and incorporate [them] in their lives so that they carry themselves as [those] kind of [people] for the rest of their [lives].

Barack Obama was always special, you know? And not special, like, He's gonna be important, he's gonna be president. He was special in terms of his honesty, his sincerity, his compassion for other people.

Character makes trust possible, and trust is the foundation of leadership.