--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No public man can be just a little…" description: "\"No public man can be just a little crooked. There is no such thing as a no-man's land between honesty and dishonesty.\" — Herbert Hoover" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/herbert-hoover-1115_corruption_no-public-man-can-be-just-a-little-crook_2905458.jpg" --- # No public man can be just a little crooked. There is no… ![“No public man can be just a little crooked. There is no such thing as a no-man's land between honesty and dishonesty.” quote by Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/herbert-hoover-1115_corruption_no-public-man-can-be-just-a-little-crook_2905458.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/herbert-hoover-1115_corruption_no-public-man-can-be-just-a-little-crook_2905458.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/herbert-hoover-1115_corruption_no-public-man-can-be-just-a-little-crook_2905458.jpg) > “No public man can be just a little crooked. There is no such thing as a no-man's land between honesty and dishonesty.” [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. States no one can be slightly dishonest; honesty is absolute. **In simple terms:** No partial honesty exists. Key Takeaway Uphold complete integrity. Themes ethics leadership integrity Mood principled reflective Type ethical leadership When to use this quote - government service - business ethics - personal conduct Key Concepts Moral standards public trust Questions to Reflect On - When is transparency essential? - How to balance honesty with diplomacy? A Different Perspective Absolute honesty may be impractical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Dishonesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishonesty/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) ## Related quotes > [No public man can be just a little crooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/no-public-man-can-be-just-a-little-crooked/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [My father was a businessman. We had discussions about honesty and dishonesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cullum/my-father-was-a-businessman-we-had-discussions-about-honesty-and/) [John Cullum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cullum/) > [“I craved honesty, yet found dishonesty in myself. Why commit to art? For self-realization, or for itself? It seemed indulgent to add to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-craved-honesty-yet-found-dishonesty-in-myself-why-commit-to-art-for/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“honesty and dishonesty are based on a mixture of two very different types of motivation. On the one hand, we want to benefit from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/honesty-and-dishonesty-are-based-on-a-mixture-of-two-very-different/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [“It's a sad reflection on society how many people are shocked by honesty... and how few by dishonesty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/it-s-a-sad-reflection-on-society-how-many-people-are-shocked-by/) [Noël Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [Some false representations contravene the law; some do not. The law does not pretend to punish everything that is dishonest. That would seriously interfere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/some-false-representations-contravene-the-law-some-do-not-the-law/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [There is no well defined boundary line between honesty and dishonesty. The frontiers of one blend with the outside limits of the other, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/there-is-no-well-defined-boundary-line-between-honesty-and-dishonesty/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [Before us lie two paths - honesty and dishonesty. The shortsighted embark on the dishonest path; the wise on the honest. For the wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/before-us-lie-two-paths-honesty-and-dishonesty-the-shortsighted/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Courage is the essential element in any great public man or woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/courage-is-the-essential-element-in-any-great-public-man-or-woman/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [A man ain't got no right to be a public man, unless he meets the public views.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/a-man-ain-t-got-no-right-to-be-a-public-man-unless-he-meets-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The public man needs but one patron, namely, the lucky moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/the-public-man-needs-but-one-patron-namely-the-lucky-moment/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [The time comes upon every public man when it is best for him to keep his lips closed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-time-comes-upon-every-public-man-when-it-is-best-for-him-to-keep/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“I remember someone saying that the importance of any public man can be gauged by the number of mellifluous young men he has about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/i-remember-someone-saying-that-the-importance-of-any-public-man-can/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [In Gerald Ford, the man he was in public, he was also that man in private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brokaw/in-gerald-ford-the-man-he-was-in-public-he-was-also-that-man-in/) [Tom Brokaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brokaw/) > [The most powerful men are not public men: a public man is responsible, and a responsible man is a slave. It is private life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-most-powerful-men-are-not-public-men-a-public-man-is-responsible/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## More by Herbert Hoover > [While the crash only took place six months ago, I am convinced we have now passed the worst, and with continued unity of effort,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/while-the-crash-only-took-place-six-months-ago-i-am-convinced-we-have/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [Fishing is a constant reminder of the democracy of life, of humility, and of human frailty. The forces of nature discriminate for no man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/fishing-is-a-constant-reminder-of-the-democracy-of-life-of-humility/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [It is a great profession. There is the fascination of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/it-is-a-great-profession-there-is-the-fascination-of-watching-a/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [The human animal originally came from out-of-doors. When spring begins to move in his bones, he just must get out again. Moreover, as civilization,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/the-human-animal-originally-came-from-out-of-doors-when-spring-begins/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [“No one ever listened themselves out of a job.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/no-one-ever-listened-themselves-out-of-a-job/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [Somebody has inquired as to whether I will be going to the opening baseball game. I hope to have that pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/somebody-has-inquired-as-to-whether-i-will-be-going-to-the-opening/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [It is always possible that occasional individuals may have overstepped the law and humanity in treatment of criminals and those charged with crime, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/it-is-always-possible-that-occasional-individuals-may-have/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [One of the primary necessities of the world for the maintenance of peace is the elimination of the frictions which arise from competitive armament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/one-of-the-primary-necessities-of-the-world-for-the-maintenance-of/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [Man is still by instinct a predatory animal given to devilish aggression. The discoveries of science have immensely increased productivity of material things. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/man-is-still-by-instinct-a-predatory-animal-given-to-devilish/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [You convey too great a compliment when you say that I have earned the right to the presidential nomination. No man can establish such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/you-convey-too-great-a-compliment-when-you-say-that-i-have-earned-the/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [“Leadership cannot be created synthetically. Men must be what they were made by the Almighty or the American people will find them out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/leadership-cannot-be-created-synthetically-men-must-be-what-they-were/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [When we are sick, we want an uncommon doctor; when we have a construction job to do, we want an uncommon engineer, and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/when-we-are-sick-we-want-an-uncommon-doctor-when-we-have-a/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [My boyhood ambition was to be able to earn my own living, without the help of anybody, anywhere,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/my-boyhood-ambition-was-to-be-able-to-earn-my-own-living-without-the/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [If America is to be run by the people, it is the people who must think. And we do not need to put on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/if-america-is-to-be-run-by-the-people-it-is-the-people-who-must-think/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [The New Deal repudiation of democracy has left the Republican Party alone the guardian of the Ark of the Covenant with its charter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/the-new-deal-repudiation-of-democracy-has-left-the-republican-party/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) [Explore all 290 Herbert Hoover quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) ## More Corruption quotes > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [In the lead up to the Iraq war and its later conduct, I saw at a minimum, true dereliction, negligence and irresponsibility, at worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-zinni/in-the-lead-up-to-the-iraq-war-and-its-later-conduct-i-saw-at-a/) [Anthony Zinni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-zinni/) > [“Don't let cycles of violent crimes, uncontrollable, rising cases of bloody impunity, evil puppets in a crippled judiciary, marionettes in a corrupted legislative system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-hopes/don-t-let-cycles-of-violent-crimes-uncontrollable-rising-cases-of/) [Angelica Hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-hopes/) > [What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/what-greater-weakness-can-there-be-than-not-to-know-what-is-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [As you fight corruption, it fights back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yemi-osinbajo/as-you-fight-corruption-it-fights-back/) [Yemi Osinbajo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yemi-osinbajo/) > [Selfishness is one of the principal fruits of the corruption of human nature; and it is obvious that selfishness disposes us to over-rate our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/selfishness-is-one-of-the-principal-fruits-of-the-corruption-of-human/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [ Corruption could lead to the collapse of the Party \[Communist Party of China\] and the downfall of the state \[People's Republic of China\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xi-jinping/corruption-could-lead-to-the-collapse-of-the-party-communist-party-of/) [Xi Jinping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xi-jinping/) > [“Oh where is the noble face of modesty, or the strength of virtue, now that blasphemy is in power and men have put justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/oh-where-is-the-noble-face-of-modesty-or-the-strength-of-virtue-now/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/) [Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/) > [It looked incredibly credible!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-horlick/it-looked-incredibly-credible/) Nicola Horlick > [All power corrupts but some must govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/all-power-corrupts-but-some-must-govern/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) [Browse all 2,253 Corruption quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No public man can be just a little crooked. 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