--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can assure you I have never made…" description: "\"I can assure you I have never made decisions on my mother's behalf on her foundation's board.\" — Betsy DeVos" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/betsy-devos-7178_decisions_i-can-assure-you-i-have-never-made-decis_456832.jpg" --- # I can assure you I have never made decisions on my… ![“I can assure you I have never made decisions on my mother's behalf on her foundation's board.” quote by Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/betsy-devos-7178_decisions_i-can-assure-you-i-have-never-made-decis_456832.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/betsy-devos-7178_decisions_i-can-assure-you-i-have-never-made-decis_456832.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/betsy-devos-7178_decisions_i-can-assure-you-i-have-never-made-decis_456832.jpg) > “I can assure you I have never made decisions on my mother's behalf on her foundation's board.” [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A leader clarifies they have never made decisions on a family member's behalf, emphasizing independence in governance. **In simple terms:** No conflict of interest in family matters. Key Takeaway Maintain clear boundaries in decision‑making. Themes conflict of interest family governance transparency Mood transparent defensive Type statement clarification When to use this quote - school boards - non‑profits - family businesses Key Concepts ethical leadership accountability Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure impartiality? - What policies guard against nepotism? A Different Perspective Even with good intentions, perceived bias can arise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behalf Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behalf-foundation-3976150/) [Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions/) [Decisions Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions-mother-406004/) [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [Foundation Board](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation-board-3976149/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother Behalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-behalf-3976148/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [Trump's foundation has done nothing. Its board is packed with relatives, and he's going to use his presidency to sell himself and his brand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/trump-s-foundation-has-done-nothing-its-board-is-packed-with/) [Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/) > [Part of being a good mother means sometimes taking your own well being and needs into account when making decisions about how you mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/part-of-being-a-good-mother-means-sometimes-taking-your-own-well/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All of my decisions I made when I was a kid were decisions, would my mother and father be proud of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-venturi/all-of-my-decisions-i-made-when-i-was-a-kid-were-decisions-would-my/) [Ken Venturi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-venturi/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Deterrence is still fundamentally about influencing an actor's decisions. It is about a solid policy foundation. It is about credible capabilities. It is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-robert-kehler/deterrence-is-still-fundamentally-about-influencing-an-actor-s/) [C. Robert Kehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-robert-kehler/) > [A film is a chain of very difficult decisions, and I think one of them is to choose an accurate cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-camara/a-film-is-a-chain-of-very-difficult-decisions-and-i-think-one-of-them/) [Javier Camara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-camara/) > [You just try to make the best decisions you can. You just take life as it comes to you and do your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/you-just-try-to-make-the-best-decisions-you-can-you-just-take-life-as/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [“Do you keep pace with those around you, or do you decide yourself just how you will live your life? The truth is...only you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/do-you-keep-pace-with-those-around-you-or-do-you-decide-yourself-just/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [“All you can do is make your decisions based on what you know now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malinda-lo/all-you-can-do-is-make-your-decisions-based-on-what-you-know-now/) [Malinda Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malinda-lo/) > [Decisions decide destiny, there is no action without decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/decisions-decide-destiny-there-is-no-action-without-decision/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“And so back to Cassie: who was she? Part of the deception; just a friend or something else…perhaps it was time to find out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-cusick-jones/and-so-back-to-cassie-who-was-she-part-of-the-deception-just-a-friend/) [Melanie Cusick-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-cusick-jones/) > [“Many people fail in their career, business and relationship, and others get stuck because of their inability to make quality decisions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkem-mpamah/many-people-fail-in-their-career-business-and-relationship-and-others/) [Nkem Mpamah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkem-mpamah/) > [Some might argue humans are hard-wired to fight. I don't agree: we are conscious beings who have the capacity to make decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-macmillan/some-might-argue-humans-are-hard-wired-to-fight-i-don-t-agree-we-are/) [Margaret MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-macmillan/) > [“The decisions we take reflects our belief and our charachter”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnish-borah/the-decisions-we-take-reflects-our-belief-and-our-charachter/) [Rajnish Borah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnish-borah/) > [“What can we do in any hardship? We can hope with prayerful praise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/what-can-we-do-in-any-hardship-we-can-hope-with-prayerful-praise/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## More by Betsy DeVos > [Government likes committees... a lot. Committees kill all the really good ideas and generally all the really bad ideas. They produce middle-ground mush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/government-likes-committees-a-lot-committees-kill-all-the-really-good/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [Social justice and economics are both issues to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/social-justice-and-economics-are-both-issues-to-me/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [Federal law must be followed where federal dollars are in play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/federal-law-must-be-followed-where-federal-dollars-are-in-play/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [It shouldn't matter what type of school a student attends, so long as the school is the right fit for that student.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/it-shouldn-t-matter-what-type-of-school-a-student-attends-so-long-as/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [If you can't get cell phone service in your living room, then your particular provider is failing you. You should have the option to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/if-you-can-t-get-cell-phone-service-in-your-living-room-then-your/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [President-elect Trump and I know it won't be Washington, D.C., that unlocks our nation's potential, nor a bigger bureaucracy, tougher mandates, or a federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/president-elect-trump-and-i-know-it-won-t-be-washington-d-c-that/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [There are not enough philanthropic dollars in America to fund what is currently the need in education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/there-are-not-enough-philanthropic-dollars-in-america-to-fund-what-is/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [We can focus on differences that divide us, or we can choose to listen and learn from each other's experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/we-can-focus-on-differences-that-divide-us-or-we-can-choose-to-listen/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [Opening a complaint for investigation in no way implies that the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has made a determination about the merits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/opening-a-complaint-for-investigation-in-no-way-implies-that-the/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [That's where my heart has been for three decades is to really empower and allow all families the same kind of opportunities I've had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/that-s-where-my-heart-has-been-for-three-decades-is-to-really-empower/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [No student should feel like there isn't a way to seek justice, and no student should feel that the scales are tipped against him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/no-student-should-feel-like-there-isn-t-a-way-to-seek-justice-and-no/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [Where conflicts are identified, they will be resolved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/where-conflicts-are-identified-they-will-be-resolved/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [It could be easy to get frustrated or discouraged when it comes to educating students with disabilities. But that's because there are too often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/it-could-be-easy-to-get-frustrated-or-discouraged-when-it-comes-to/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [Government tends to stifle innovation, and it abhors improvisation. Any good military strategist will tell you that a battle plan rarely survives past the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/government-tends-to-stifle-innovation-and-it-abhors-improvisation-any/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [Just as the traditional taxi system revolted against ride sharing, so too does the education establishment feel threatened by the rise of school choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/just-as-the-traditional-taxi-system-revolted-against-ride-sharing-so/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) [Explore all 94 Betsy DeVos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) ## More Decisions quotes > [“What can we do in any hardship? We can hope with prayerful praise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/what-can-we-do-in-any-hardship-we-can-hope-with-prayerful-praise/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The decisions we take reflects our belief and our charachter”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnish-borah/the-decisions-we-take-reflects-our-belief-and-our-charachter/) [Rajnish Borah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnish-borah/) > [Some might argue humans are hard-wired to fight. I don't agree: we are conscious beings who have the capacity to make decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-macmillan/some-might-argue-humans-are-hard-wired-to-fight-i-don-t-agree-we-are/) [Margaret MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-macmillan/) > [“Many people fail in their career, business and relationship, and others get stuck because of their inability to make quality decisions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkem-mpamah/many-people-fail-in-their-career-business-and-relationship-and-others/) [Nkem Mpamah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkem-mpamah/) > [“And so back to Cassie: who was she? Part of the deception; just a friend or something else…perhaps it was time to find out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-cusick-jones/and-so-back-to-cassie-who-was-she-part-of-the-deception-just-a-friend/) [Melanie Cusick-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-cusick-jones/) > [Decisions decide destiny, there is no action without decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/decisions-decide-destiny-there-is-no-action-without-decision/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“All you can do is make your decisions based on what you know now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malinda-lo/all-you-can-do-is-make-your-decisions-based-on-what-you-know-now/) [Malinda Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malinda-lo/) > [“Do you keep pace with those around you, or do you decide yourself just how you will live your life? The truth is...only you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/do-you-keep-pace-with-those-around-you-or-do-you-decide-yourself-just/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [You just try to make the best decisions you can. You just take life as it comes to you and do your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/you-just-try-to-make-the-best-decisions-you-can-you-just-take-life-as/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [A film is a chain of very difficult decisions, and I think one of them is to choose an accurate cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-camara/a-film-is-a-chain-of-very-difficult-decisions-and-i-think-one-of-them/) [Javier Camara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-camara/) > [There are no minor decisions in movie making. Each decision will either contribute to a good piece of work or bring the whole movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/there-are-no-minor-decisions-in-movie-making-each-decision-will/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [You've got Washington picking winners and losers. And so, all of a sudden, decisions are being made on what helps politicians, not what helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-hensarling/you-ve-got-washington-picking-winners-and-losers-and-so-all-of-a/) [Jeb Hensarling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-hensarling/) > [I've always made my decisions based on two factors: intellectual analysis and my gut. And when they meet, that's a go from me. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ovitz/i-ve-always-made-my-decisions-based-on-two-factors-intellectual/) [Michael Ovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ovitz/) > [We, as individuals, are defined by the choices we make. Some of our decisions can have very significant consequences and totally change the courses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cage/we-as-individuals-are-defined-by-the-choices-we-make-some-of-our/) [David Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cage/) [Browse all 1,926 Decisions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can assure you I have never made decisions on my mother's behalf on her foundation's board.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Betsy DeVos" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/i-can-assure-you-i-have-never-made-decisions-on-my-mother-s-behalf-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decisions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/i-can-assure-you-i-have-never-made-decisions-on-my-mother-s-behalf-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/betsy-devos-7178_decisions_i-can-assure-you-i-have-never-made-decis_456832.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/betsy-devos-7178_decisions_i-can-assure-you-i-have-never-made-decis_456832.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/betsy-devos-7178_decisions_i-can-assure-you-i-have-never-made-decis_456832.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can assure you I have never made decisions on my mother's behalf on her foundation's board.” — Betsy DeVos", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Betsy DeVos", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I can assure you I have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/i-can-assure-you-i-have-never-made-decisions-on-my-mother-s-behalf-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/i-can-assure-you-i-have-never-made-decisions-on-my-mother-s-behalf-on/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```