--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is an honourable tradition in…" description: "\"There is an honourable tradition in British public life that those charged with authority at the top of an organisation should accept responsibility fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db3/gavyn-davies-34333_accepting_there-is-an-honourable-tradition-in-brit_681628.png" --- # There is an honourable tradition in British public life… ![“There is an honourable tradition in British public life that those charged with authority at the top of an organisation should accept responsibility for what happens in that organisation. I am therefore writing to the prime minister today to tender my resignation as chairman of the BBC.” quote by Gavyn Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db3/gavyn-davies-34333_accepting_there-is-an-honourable-tradition-in-brit_681628.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db3/gavyn-davies-34333_accepting_there-is-an-honourable-tradition-in-brit_681628.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db3/gavyn-davies-34333_accepting_there-is-an-honourable-tradition-in-brit_681628.png) > “There is an honourable tradition in British public life that those charged with authority at the top of an organisation should accept responsibility for what happens in that organisation. I am therefore writing to the prime minister today to tender my resignation as chairman of the BBC.” [Gavyn Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavyn-davies/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer resigns from BBC chair, citing a tradition that leaders accept responsibility for organizational outcomes. **In simple terms:** Leaders should own their organization’s actions. Key Takeaway Step down when responsibility is required. Themes leadership accountability ethics media governance Mood serious formal Type political institutional When to use this quote - board meetings - public statements - transition planning Key Concepts corporate responsibility public trust governance standards Questions to Reflect On - What impact does this have on the BBC? - How can accountability be improved? A Different Perspective Resignation may be symbolic without systemic change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-responsibility/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Chairman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chairman/) [Chairman Bbc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chairman-bbc-5392660/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Ministers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ministers/) [Organisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organisation/) [Prime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prime/) [Prime minister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prime-minister/) [Public life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-life/) [Resignation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resignation/) [Resignation Chairman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resignation-chairman-5392661/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Tender Resignation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tender-resignation-692930/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The engineer's power was usually limited to a refusal to endorse a given plan, or to the tender of his resignation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-florman/the-engineer-s-power-was-usually-limited-to-a-refusal-to-endorse-a/) [Samuel Florman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-florman/) > [It follows that any commander in chief who undertakes to carry out a plan which he considers defective is at fault; he must put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/it-follows-that-any-commander-in-chief-who-undertakes-to-carry-out-a/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The BBC should not have a cheerleader. It should have somebody who runs the organisation in the interests of the public and that should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavyn-davies/the-bbc-should-not-have-a-cheerleader-it-should-have-somebody-who/) [Gavyn Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavyn-davies/) > [“Do not loose hope.Start now whether you are. Accept full responsibility for your actions, and trust the Mystic Law of the Universe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-joshi/do-not-loose-hope-start-now-whether-you-are-accept-full/) [Vikram Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-joshi/) > [I do know that I have to follow my heart. I never had the intention of hurting anybody and I accept full responsibility for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-kardashian/i-do-know-that-i-have-to-follow-my-heart-i-never-had-the-intention-of/) [Kim Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-kardashian/) > [“Don’t make excuses; accept responsibility. You must take responsibility for how you respond to everything that happens in your life; whether you cause it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-word-hollis/don-t-make-excuses-accept-responsibility-you-must-take-responsibility/) [Michelle Word Hollis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-word-hollis/) > [People should see the good that can happen when you aren't afraid to accept responsibility for your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-ganz/people-should-see-the-good-that-can-happen-when-you-aren-t-afraid-to/) [Megan Ganz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-ganz/) > [“An authentic and genuine life grows like a sturdy tree. And like a tree, it grows slowly. Every time you make a different and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/an-authentic-and-genuine-life-grows-like-a-sturdy-tree-and-like-a/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [“With great power comes great responsibility.” It is true. But there’s a better version of this quote, a version that actually is profound, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/with-great-power-comes-great-responsibility-it-is-true-but-there-s-a/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“When you start to accept responsibility for the results you get in life, you also take back the power to change your future outcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ngo/when-you-start-to-accept-responsibility-for-the-results-you-get-in/) [Kevin Ngo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ngo/) > [Weak leaders of churches blame people and circumstances. Breakout church leaders accept responsibility and see God's possibilities in even difficult situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-s-rainer/weak-leaders-of-churches-blame-people-and-circumstances-breakout/) [Thom S. Rainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-s-rainer/) > [It would have been easier to fight alone with inadequate forces than to have to accept...responsibility for our ally's lack of fighting qualities and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kesselring/it-would-have-been-easier-to-fight-alone-with-inadequate-forces-than/) [Albert Kesselring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kesselring/) > [Nobody ever indited down an orchestration to be impecunious, fat, indolent, or incoherent. Those things are what transpire when you dont have an orchestration.Accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apoorv-awasthi/nobody-ever-indited-down-an-orchestration-to-be-impecunious-fat/) [Apoorv Awasthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apoorv-awasthi/) > [“I don't have sympathy for people who wrap themselves in injury caused by their inability to deal with personal inadequacies and refusal to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-mills/i-don-t-have-sympathy-for-people-who-wrap-themselves-in-injury-caused/) [Nikki Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-mills/) > [“If we enjoy the right to freedom, it is because we accept our responsibility not to harm or harass others. If we expect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-visser/if-we-enjoy-the-right-to-freedom-it-is-because-we-accept-our/) [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) ## More by Gavyn Davies > [I want the BBC to be a mass market public service broadcaster still funded by the licence fee... and the licence fee is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavyn-davies/i-want-the-bbc-to-be-a-mass-market-public-service-broadcaster-still/) [Gavyn Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavyn-davies/) > [It was an interesting question as to whether the BBC had a future in the digital world, and what form of market failure could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavyn-davies/it-was-an-interesting-question-as-to-whether-the-bbc-had-a-future-in/) [Gavyn Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavyn-davies/) > [The BBC is part of the glue which binds the United Kingdom together. At those times of national moment - of joy or sadness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavyn-davies/the-bbc-is-part-of-the-glue-which-binds-the-united-kingdom-together/) [Gavyn Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavyn-davies/) > [Normally I would not recommend a book that tells you how to make money in the stock market. Most of these books are aimed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavyn-davies/normally-i-would-not-recommend-a-book-that-tells-you-how-to-make/) [Gavyn Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavyn-davies/) > [The BBC provides the commentary on our lives, the soundtrack of the nation. It is one of the most powerful unifying forces in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavyn-davies/the-bbc-provides-the-commentary-on-our-lives-the-soundtrack-of-the/) [Gavyn Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavyn-davies/) > [Other than marriage, she doesn't control me and I don't control her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavyn-davies/other-than-marriage-she-doesn-t-control-me-and-i-don-t-control-her/) [Gavyn Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavyn-davies/) > [The BBC must never be all about ratings - or even mainly about ratings. In the past year, we have made a raft of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavyn-davies/the-bbc-must-never-be-all-about-ratings-or-even-mainly-about-ratings/) [Gavyn Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavyn-davies/) > [The BBC should not have a cheerleader. It should have somebody who runs the organisation in the interests of the public and that should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavyn-davies/the-bbc-should-not-have-a-cheerleader-it-should-have-somebody-who/) [Gavyn Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavyn-davies/) > [Over the last decade, economists seemed to share a broad consensus about economic policy, with the old splits between monetarists and Keynesians apparently being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavyn-davies/over-the-last-decade-economists-seemed-to-share-a-broad-consensus/) [Gavyn Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavyn-davies/) > [Inflation is not always the main problem, or indeed a problem at all. Sometimes, though rarely, deflation is a more serious threat, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavyn-davies/inflation-is-not-always-the-main-problem-or-indeed-a-problem-at-all/) [Gavyn Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavyn-davies/) > [Without the BBC, the proliferation of television and radio channels by the private sector would simply result in more and more channels, with tiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavyn-davies/without-the-bbc-the-proliferation-of-television-and-radio-channels-by/) [Gavyn Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavyn-davies/) > [As long as the appointment process is transparent and there is a broad mix of political views among the governors of the BBC, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavyn-davies/as-long-as-the-appointment-process-is-transparent-and-there-is-a/) [Gavyn Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavyn-davies/) > [Almost everyone will find something in our services worth paying for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavyn-davies/almost-everyone-will-find-something-in-our-services-worth-paying-for/) [Gavyn Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavyn-davies/) [Explore all 14 Gavyn Davies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavyn-davies/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is an honourable tradition in British public life that those charged with authority at the top of an organisation should accept responsibility for what happens in that organisation. 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