---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is curious that we pay statesmen for…"
description: "\"It is curious that we pay statesmen for what they say, not for what they do; and judge of them from what they do, not from what they say. Hence they ha..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/charles-caleb-colton-270_bed_it-is-curious-that-we-pay-statesmen-for_1274090.jpg"
---

#  It is curious that we pay statesmen for what they say, not…

![“It is curious that we pay statesmen for what they say, not for what they do; and judge of them from what they do, not from what they say. Hence they have one code of maxims for profession and another for practice, and make up their consciences as the Neapolitans do their beds, with one set of…” quote by Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/charles-caleb-colton-270_bed_it-is-curious-that-we-pay-statesmen-for_1274090.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/charles-caleb-colton-270_bed_it-is-curious-that-we-pay-statesmen-for_1274090.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/charles-caleb-colton-270_bed_it-is-curious-that-we-pay-statesmen-for_1274090.jpg)

> “It is curious that we pay statesmen for what they say, not for what they do; and judge of them from what they do, not from what they say. Hence they have one code of maxims for profession and another for practice, and make up their consciences as the Neapolitans do their beds, with one set of furniture for show and another for use.”

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People are often judged by their actions, not their words; hypocrisy arises when public statements differ from private behavior.

**In simple terms:** Actions matter more than words.

Key Takeaway

Align speech with deeds.

Themes

integrity leadership hypocrisy communication

Mood

thoughtful serious inquisitive

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- political leadership
- corporate governance
- personal relationships

Key Concepts

Moral consistency public perception ethical conduct

Questions to Reflect On

- What steps can you take to ensure your actions match your promises?
- How do you spot hypocrisy in others?

A Different Perspective

People may rationalize inconsistencies, making change difficult.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Furniture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/furniture/) [Maxims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maxims/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profession/) [Statesmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statesmen/)

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