Those who are unwilling to invest in the future haven’t earned one.
—Harold Warren Lewis
At the root of human responsibility is the concept of perfect, the urge to achieve it, the intelligence to find a path towards it, and the will to follow that path, if not to the end at least the distance needed to rise above individual limitations and environmental impediments.
—Aung San Suu Kyi (b.1945) Burmese Politician, Human Rights Activist
Responsibility walks hand in hand with capacity and power.
—Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819–81) American Editor, Novelist
The challenges of change are always hard. It is important that we begin to unpack those challenges that confront this nation and realize that we each have a role that requires us to change and become more responsible for shaping our own future.
—Hillary Rodham Clinton (b.1947) American Head of State, Politician
I believe that we are solely responsible for our choices, and we have to accept the consequences of every deed, word, and thought throughout our lifetime.
—Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (1926-2004) American Psychiatrist
All business depends upon men fulfilling their responsibilities.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
You have given me a great responsibility: to stay close to you, to be worthy of you and to exemplify what you are.
—Jimmy Carter (b.1924) American Head of State, Military Leader
To what extent is any given man morally responsible for any given act? We do not know.
—Alexis Carrel (1873–1944) American Surgeon, Biologist
You are not responsible for the programming you picked up in childhood. However, as an adult, you are one hundred percent responsible for fixing it.
—Ken Keyes, Jr. (1921–95) American Motivational Speaker, Author, Lecturer
Let there be no doubt: as long as you continue to blame others instead of assuming your responsibilities, you will make no meaningful and enduring change for the better. What kind of people are we, if we don’t have the character to own up to our own shortcomings and responsibilities? To have and enjoy certain liberties requires us to hold each other and ourselves accountable for our actions.
—Gary Ryan Blair
We need to restore the full meaning of that old word, duty. It is the other side of rights.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
Dr. Miller says we are pessimistic because life seems like a very bad, very screwed-up film. If you ask “What the hell is wrong with the projector?” and go up to the control room, you find it’s empty. You are the projectionist, and you should have been up there all the time.
—Colin Wilson (b.1931) British Philosopher, Novelist
Everyone has a responsibility to not only tolerate another person’s point of view, but also to accept it eagerly as a challenge to your own understanding. And express those challenges in terms of serving other people.
—Arlo Guthrie (b.1947) American Singer, Songwriter
Most of us can read the writing on the wall; we just assume it’s addressed to someone else.
—Ivern Ball (1926–92) American Writer, Aphorist
Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him, and to let him know that you trust him.
—Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) African-American Educationist
It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do for which we are accountable.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
Each individual in fact has moral responsibility for the acts which he personally performs; no one can be exempted from this responsibility, and on the basis of it everyone will be judged by God himself.
—Pope John Paul II (1920–2005) Polish Catholic Religious Leader
It is a painful thing to look at your own trouble and know that you yourself, and no one else, has made it.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
No one to blame! That was why most people led lives they hated, with people they hated. How wonderful to have someone to blame! How wonderful to live with one’s nemesis! You may be miserable, but you feel forever in the right. You may be fragmented, but you feel absolved of all the blame for it. Take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame.
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty.
—John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (1874–1960) American Philanthropist, Businessperson
People tend to forget their duties but remember their rights.
—Indira Gandhi (1917–84) Indian Head of State
Liberty not only means that the individual has both the opportunity and the burden of choice; it also means that he must bear the consequences of his actions…. Liberty and responsibility are inseparable.
—Friedrich Hayek (1899–1992) British Economist, Social Philosopher
I believe in the supreme worth of the individual and in his right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty. I believe that the law was made for man and not man for the law; that government is the servant of the people and not their master. I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that the world owes no man a living but that it owes every man an opportunity to make a living. I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered living and that economy is a prime requisite of a sound financial structure, whether in government, business or personal affairs. I believe that truth and justice are fundamental to an enduring social order. I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man’s word should be as good as his bond; that character-not wealth or power or position-is of supreme worth. I believe that the rendering of useful service is the common duty of mankind and that only in the purifying fire of sacrifice is the dross of selfishness consumed and the greatness of the human soul set free. I believe in an all-wise and all-loving God, named by whatever name, and that the individual’s highest fulfillment, greatest happiness and widest usefulness are to be found in living in harmony with His will. I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world; that it alone can overcome hate; that right can and will triumph over might.
—John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (1874–1960) American Philanthropist, Businessperson
One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And, the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
A weakened sense of responsibility does not weaken the fact of responsibility.
—William Bennett (b.1943) American Politician, Political Theorist, Government Official
We hardly ever realize that we can cut anything out of our lives, anytime, in the blink of an eye.
—Carlos Castaneda (1925–98) Peruvian-born American Anthropologist, Author
The way to avoid responsibility is to say, “I’ve got responsibilities.”
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Novelist, Aviator
You are free to choose, but the choices you make today will determine what you will have, be and do in the tomorrow of your life.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Whenever we seek to avoid the responsibility for our own behavior, we do so by attempting to give that responsibility to some other individual or organization or entity. But this means we then give away our power to that entity.
—M. Scott Peck (1936–2005) American Psychiatrist, Author
We have the Bill of Rights. What we need is a Bill of Responsibilities.
—Bill Maher (b.1956) American Comedian, TV Personality, Social Critic, Author, Actor
Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself—and be lenient to everybody else.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Be more aware of responsibility than you are of your rights.
—Unknown
Choice of attention – to pay attention to this and ignore that – is to the inner life what choice of action is to the outer. In both cases, a man is responsible for his choice and must accept the consequences, whatever they may be.
—W. H. Auden (1907–73) British-born American Poet, Dramatist
Responsibility educates.
—Wendell Phillips (1811–84) American Abolitionist, Lawyer, Orator
Champions take responsibility. When the ball is coming over the net, you can be sure I want the ball.
—Billie Jean King (b.1943) American Tennis Player
Everything proceeds as if of its own accord, and this can all too easily tempt us to relax and let things take their course without troubling over details. Such indifference is the root of all evil.
—I Ching Ancient Chinese Divination Text
It is tempting at one level to believe that bad things happen to people (especially other people) because God is a righteous judge who gives them exactly what they deserve. By believing that we keep the world orderly and understandable…. But [this belief] has a number of serious limitations…. It teaches people to blame themselves. It creates guilt when there is no basis for guilt. And most disturbing of all, it does not even fit the facts.
—Harold Kushner (b.1935) American Jewish Religious Leader, Priest
My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
The most important thought I ever had was that of my individual responsibility to God.
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
A man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life.
—James Allen (1864–1912) British Philosophical Writer
Never mind your happiness; do your duty.
—Will Durant (1885–1981) American Historian, Philosopher, Memoirist, Socialist
It is the responsibility of leadership to provide opportunity, and the responsibility of individuals to contribute.
—C. William Pollard (b.1938) American Businessman
Responsibility is the possibility of opportunity culminating in inevitable fulfillment.
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
As human beings, we are endowed with freedom of choice, and we cannot shuffle off our responsibility upon the shoulders of God or nature. We must shoulder it ourselves. It is up to us.
—Arnold J. Toynbee (1889–1975) British Historian
Good men prefer to be accountable.
—Michael Edwardes (1930–2019) South African-British Business Executive
A chief is a man who assumes responsibility. He says, “I was beaten”. He does not say, “My men were beaten”. Thus speaks a real man.
—Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900–44) French Novelist, Aviator
You might well remember that nothing can bring you success but yourself.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
In times like the present men should utter nothing for which they would not willingly be responsible through time and in eternity.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.
—Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (1909–1966) Polish Aphorist, Poet
Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will – his personal responsibility in the realm of faith and morals.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
You can’t escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Our greatest responsibility is to be good ancestors.
—Jonas Salk (1914–95) American Biologist, Physician, Medical Researcher
When a man points a finger at someone else, he should remember that four of his fingers are pointing to himself.
—Louis Nizer (1902–1994) American Lawyer, Author
The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between the two, the leader must become a servant and a debtor. That sums up the progress of an artful leader.
—Max De Pree (1924–2017) American Businessman
A new position of responsibility will usually show a man to be a far stronger creature than was supposed.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something less, because passing civilization along from one generation to the next ought to be the highest honor and the highest responsibility anyone could have.
—Lee Iacocca (1924–2019) American Businessperson
We have not passed that subtle line between childhood and adulthood until we move from the passive voice to the active voice — that is, until we have stopped saying “It got lost,” and say, “I lost it.”
—Sydney J. Harris (1917–86) American Essayist, Drama Critic
A man, as a general rule, owes very little to what he is born with — a man is what he makes of himself.
—Alexander Graham Bell (1847–1922) Scottish-born American Inventor, Engineer, Academic
I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything; but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
—Edward Everett Hale (1822–1909) American Unitarian Clergyman
I saw that we’re all doing the best we can. This is how a lifetime of humility begins.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
I don’t think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
From my experience, not one in twenty marries the first love; we build statues of snow, and weep to see them melt.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
Even when we know what is right, too often we fail to act. More often we grab greedily for the day, letting tomorrow bring what it will, putting off the unpleasant and unpopular.
—Bernard M. Baruch (1870–1965) American Financier, Economic Consultant
Frozen in fear, you avoid responsibility because you think your experience is beyond your control. This stance keeps you from making decisions, solving problems, or going after what you want in life.
—David Emerald
We’re in a fight for our principles and our first responsibility is to live by them.
—George W. Bush (b.1946) American Head of State, Businessperson
Only where we ourselves are responsible for our own interests and are free to sacrifice them has our decision moral value. We are neither entitled to be unselfish at someone else’s expense nor is there any merit in being unselfish if we have no choice. The members of a society who in all respects are made to do the good thing have no title to praise.
—Friedrich Hayek (1899–1992) British Economist, Social Philosopher
Nothing happens by itself. It all will come your way, once you understand that you have to make it come your way, by your own exertions.
—Ben Stein (b.1944) American Lawyer, Writer, Economist, Humorist
Responsible persons are mature people who have taken charge of themselves and their conduct, who own their actions and own up to them–who answer for them.
—William Bennett (b.1943) American Politician, Political Theorist, Government Official