The congressman shook his head. “I must vote according to my conscience,” he said. “Tobacco is harmful to the people."
The businessman smiled. “I will be happy to give you $150,000,” he said.
Again the congressman refused. “I must be free to vote what is right,” he said.
“$ 200,000?” asked the businessman. The congressman thought of all that two hundred thousand dollars would buy-cars, houses, investments. “Stop,” he said. “You are getting too near my price!”
The businessman did not stop. “Two hundred thousand dollars!” he said. The young politician was bought for two hundred thousand dollars. From then on he was a slave to the tobacco industry.
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The greatest want of the world today is the want of men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men who are as true to duty as the needle* to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.
A dead fish can float downstream, but it takes a live one to swim against the stream. (It is easy to go along with the crowd in doing evil. One must have a strong character to go against the crowd in doing what is right.)
The greatest victory is for a person to conquer his own weaknesses. The greatest defeat is for his weaknesses to conquer him.
A person must be honest enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to learn from them, and strong enough to correct them.
The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.
After Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States his office was filled with supporters demanding government jobs as a reward. Lincoln groaned, “There are too many piglets and not enough teats!”
My fellow citizens, ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
Leaders who win the respect of others are the ones who deliver more than they promise, not the ones who promise more than they can deliver. Mark A. Clement
No man will make a great leader who wants to do everything himself, or to get all the credit for doing it. Andrew Carnegie
A leader is a man who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
If a leader demonstrates ability, genuine concern for those under him, and honest character, people will follow. T. Richard Chase
People love a leader who is compassionate.
Picture source: by Listverse
