--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unethical behavior significantly…" description: "\"“Unethical behavior significantly increases the cost of doing business.”\" — Frank Sonnenberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/frank-sonnenberg-2672_bad-behavior_unethical-behavior-significantly-increas_2822382.jpg" --- # Unethical behavior significantly increases the cost of… ![“Unethical behavior significantly increases the cost of doing business.” quote by Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/frank-sonnenberg-2672_bad-behavior_unethical-behavior-significantly-increas_2822382.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/frank-sonnenberg-2672_bad-behavior_unethical-behavior-significantly-increas_2822382.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/frank-sonnenberg-2672_bad-behavior_unethical-behavior-significantly-increas_2822382.jpg) > ““Unethical behavior significantly increases the cost of doing business.”” [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unethical actions raise business costs, harming profitability and reputation **In simple terms:** Unethical behavior costs money Key Takeaway Promote ethical standards Themes ethics cost management corporate governance Mood serious analytical Type business ethical When to use this quote - corporate settings Key Concepts Company policy reviews employee training stakeholder meetings Questions to Reflect On - How to enforce ethical compliance? - What incentives encourage integrity? A Different Perspective Short‑term gains may tempt unethical acts ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-behavior/) [Behavior Significantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior-significantly-3599542/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Ethics-matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics-matter-57728/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Immorality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immorality/) [Increases Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increases-cost-1884530/) [Significantly Increases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significantly-increases-3599543/) [Unethical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unethical/) [Unethical Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unethical-behavior-1886159/) ## Related quotes > [...how little our side of the industry did to move its business to the more ethical firms and to make a fuss about conflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-grantham/how-little-our-side-of-the-industry-did-to-move-its-business-to-the/) [Jeremy Grantham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-grantham/) > [Behaviorism is sometimes criticized as encouraging unethical behavior. For example, most organizations offer rewards for increasing revenue and threat of punishment, perhaps firing if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-nemko/behaviorism-is-sometimes-criticized-as-encouraging-unethical-behavior/) [Marty Nemko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-nemko/) > [“Indeed, the researchers found that wide-faced men perceived themselves as powerful, and this contributed to their unethical behavior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-hertenstein/indeed-the-researchers-found-that-wide-faced-men-perceived-themselves/) [Matthew Hertenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-hertenstein/) > [Large increases in cost with questionable increases in performance can be tolerated only in race horses and women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/large-increases-in-cost-with-questionable-increases-in-performance-2/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [“There is no good governance without good people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-kalen-sukra/there-is-no-good-governance-without-good-people/) [Diane Kalen-Sukra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-kalen-sukra/) > [Large increases in cost with questionable increases in performance can be tolerated only in race horses and fancy women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/large-increases-in-cost-with-questionable-increases-in-performance/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [“Think before you click. If people do not know you personally and if they cannot see you as you type, what you post online…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/think-before-you-click-if-people-do-not-know-you-personally-and-if/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“There's no room for hate and violence in this world. We must learn to be more kind, compassionate, empathetic, and sympathetic to humanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/there-s-no-room-for-hate-and-violence-in-this-world-we-must-learn-to/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The city is not changing anything, ... increases in the cost of natural gas will be passed through to the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-graham/the-city-is-not-changing-anything-increases-in-the-cost-of-natural/) [Ruth Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-graham/) > [We all have done something unethical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/we-all-have-done-something-unethical/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I have to say that one of the most important things Scientology has given me is the ability to keep my integrity together. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-masterson/i-have-to-say-that-one-of-the-most-important-things-scientology-has/) [Danny Masterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-masterson/) > [I'm very, very pleased to be cleared of any legal wrongdoing, any hint of any kind of unethical activity there. Very pleased to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/i-m-very-very-pleased-to-be-cleared-of-any-legal-wrongdoing-any-hint/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [Further, in writing, I feel corrupt and unethical if I have to look up a subject in a library as part of the writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/further-in-writing-i-feel-corrupt-and-unethical-if-i-have-to-look-up/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [Here is your government at work. A congressman from Colorado said he wants to draft a rule that would make it unethical to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/here-is-your-government-at-work-a-congressman-from-colorado-said-he/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Food is being purposefully formulated to addict you.Then it is purposefully marketed, targeted to young children to addict them at an early age. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-david/food-is-being-purposefully-formulated-to-addict-you-then-it-is/) [Laurie David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-david/) ## More by Frank Sonnenberg > [“If you don’t try, you forfeit the opportunity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/if-you-don-t-try-you-forfeit-the-opportunity/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“Stepping outside your comfort zone isn’t a walk in the park, but the treasures that await you are like paths paved with gold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/stepping-outside-your-comfort-zone-isn-t-a-walk-in-the-park-but-the/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“Just because a person is silent doesn’t mean there’s no message.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/just-because-a-person-is-silent-doesn-t-mean-there-s-no-message/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“Compromising your principles, even one time, is a terrible mistake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/compromising-your-principles-even-one-time-is-a-terrible-mistake/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“Perfection may not be possible, but striving for excellence is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/perfection-may-not-be-possible-but-striving-for-excellence-is/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“In the school of life, every experience offers a lesson.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/in-the-school-of-life-every-experience-offers-a-lesson/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“Kindness is the one gift that you can keep on giving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/kindness-is-the-one-gift-that-you-can-keep-on-giving/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“Your life is determined by the sum of the choices that YOU make.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/your-life-is-determined-by-the-sum-of-the-choices-that-you-make/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“Mimicking a poor role model is like eating food past its due date. While it may look good on the surface, it’ll ultimately make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/mimicking-a-poor-role-model-is-like-eating-food-past-its-due-date/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“Confidence is not about being in the spotlight; it’s about shining from within.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/confidence-is-not-about-being-in-the-spotlight-it-s-about-shining/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“It’s not what you have but who you are that counts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/it-s-not-what-you-have-but-who-you-are-that-counts/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“Be strong enough to stand on your own two feet, but wise enough to know when to ask for help.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/be-strong-enough-to-stand-on-your-own-two-feet-but-wise-enough-to/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“Those who begin things, but never complete them, accomplish nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/those-who-begin-things-but-never-complete-them-accomplish-nothing/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“Confidence comes from how you live — and you’re the one grading your performance each day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/confidence-comes-from-how-you-live-and-you-re-the-one-grading-your/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“You don’t have to be rich to give; your gift can be as simple as a smile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/you-don-t-have-to-be-rich-to-give-your-gift-can-be-as-simple-as-a/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) [Explore all 155 Frank Sonnenberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) ## More Bad behavior quotes > [“It is chilling to know that some accepted ways of being with children can leave them vulnerable to suffering from anxiety, depression, or rage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-taylor/it-is-chilling-to-know-that-some-accepted-ways-of-being-with-children/) [Natalie Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-taylor/) > [More often than not, the belief that you are bad contributes to the "bad" behavior. Change and learning occur most readily when you (a)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/more-often-than-not-the-belief-that-you-are-bad-contributes-to-the/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [The desire to keep doing what we love supersedes the desire to penalize bad behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nell-scovell/the-desire-to-keep-doing-what-we-love-supersedes-the-desire-to/) [Nell Scovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nell-scovell/) > [“Admit it—own up to the fact you have an undesirable habit. Tell the Lord about it (He already knows; it just helps you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-fike/admit-it-own-up-to-the-fact-you-have-an-undesirable-habit-tell-the/) [Al Fike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-fike/) > [If you do anything today: trade in that bad behavior for a new and improved one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaoru/if-you-do-anything-today-trade-in-that-bad-behavior-for-a-new-and/) [Kaoru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaoru/) > [“wen am good you will not accept, now don't blame me for my bad behaviors ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakhiabbas/wen-am-good-you-will-not-accept-now-don-t-blame-me-for-my-bad/) [sakhiabbas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakhiabbas/) > [“We need to get our minds right, because right now we are behaving as if we are out of our right minds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-wallace/we-need-to-get-our-minds-right-because-right-now-we-are-behaving-as/) [Carlos Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-wallace/) > [“It’s extremely unlikely you will be magically transformed from a mediocre or average people manager to a Satya Nadella or a Ratan Tata. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binod-shankar/it-s-extremely-unlikely-you-will-be-magically-transformed-from-a/) [Binod Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binod-shankar/) > [The Fox News that I know and work in is a team of producers, technicians, photographers, truck operators and production managers who barely have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-maccallum/the-fox-news-that-i-know-and-work-in-is-a-team-of-producers/) [Martha MacCallum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-maccallum/) > [Most bad behavior comes from insecurity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/most-bad-behavior-comes-from-insecurity/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [ “\[T\]here are some human rights that are so deep that we can't negotiate them away. I mean people do heinous, terrible things. But there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sister-helen-prejean/t-here-are-some-human-rights-that-are-so-deep-that-we-can-t-negotiate/) [Sister Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sister-helen-prejean/) > [The end result of positively reinforcing bad behavior is that you get more of it. The culmination of a failure to punish predators is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-mercer/the-end-result-of-positively-reinforcing-bad-behavior-is-that-you-get/) [Ilana Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilana-mercer/) > [I think writers are excited by stupidity and bad behavior, generally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-think-writers-are-excited-by-stupidity-and-bad-behavior-generally/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [“I became a student of my own depressed experience, trying to unthread its causes. What was the root of all this despair? Was it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-became-a-student-of-my-own-depressed-experience-trying-to-unthread/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“She leaned down so she was looking right in my eyes. "You hear me, child. you can't use other folks' bad behavior to excuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-crandall/she-leaned-down-so-she-was-looking-right-in-my-eyes-you-hear-me-child/) [susan crandall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-crandall/) [Browse all 203 Bad behavior quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-behavior/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Unethical behavior significantly increases the cost of doing business.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank Sonnenberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/unethical-behavior-significantly-increases-the-cost-of-doing-business/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad behavior" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/unethical-behavior-significantly-increases-the-cost-of-doing-business/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/frank-sonnenberg-2672_bad-behavior_unethical-behavior-significantly-increas_2822382.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/frank-sonnenberg-2672_bad-behavior_unethical-behavior-significantly-increas_2822382.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/frank-sonnenberg-2672_bad-behavior_unethical-behavior-significantly-increas_2822382.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Unethical behavior significantly increases the cost of doing business.” — Frank Sonnenberg", "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": "Frank Sonnenberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Unethical behavior significantly increases the cost...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/unethical-behavior-significantly-increases-the-cost-of-doing-business/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/unethical-behavior-significantly-increases-the-cost-of-doing-business/#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 } } ] } ```