--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We've got to start also holding people…" description: "\"We've got to start also holding people accountable, and we've got to reward people who succeed. But somehow in Washington today - and I'm afraid on Wal..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/john-mccain-465_corruption_we-ve-got-to-start-also-holding-people-a_434848.png" --- # We've got to start also holding people accountable, and… ![“We've got to start also holding people accountable, and we've got to reward people who succeed. But somehow in Washington today - and I'm afraid on Wall Street - greed is rewarded, excess is rewarded, and corruption - or certainly failure to carry out our responsibility is rewarded.” quote by John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/john-mccain-465_corruption_we-ve-got-to-start-also-holding-people-a_434848.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/john-mccain-465_corruption_we-ve-got-to-start-also-holding-people-a_434848.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/john-mccain-465_corruption_we-ve-got-to-start-also-holding-people-a_434848.png) > “We've got to start also holding people accountable, and we've got to reward people who succeed. But somehow in Washington today - and I'm afraid on Wall Street - greed is rewarded, excess is rewarded, and corruption - or certainly failure to carry out our responsibility is rewarded.” [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker urges accountability and rewards for success, contrasting it with a system that often rewards greed, excess, and neglect of responsibility. **In simple terms:** Call for accountability and reward for success, not greed. Key Takeaway Promote responsibility and recognize achievement. Themes accountability ethics leadership politics justice Mood concerned determined critical Type political call‑to‑action When to use this quote - government oversight - business ethics - public administration - voter education Key Concepts public policy incentive structures corporate governance Questions to Reflect On - How can we redesign incentives to favor responsibility? - What mechanisms ensure accountability in both public and private sectors? A Different Perspective Rewards for greed can undermine trust and long‑term stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Greed Rewarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed-rewarded-3826160/) [Holding People Accountable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding-people-accountable-216179/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Accountable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-accountable-850186/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Responsibility Rewarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility-rewarded-3826159/) [Rewarded Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewarded-corruption-3826158/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) [Wall St](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-st/) [Wall street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-street/) ## Related quotes > [I think it's a good thing that there are bloggers out there watching very closely and holding people accountable. 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The best bet is that the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sullivan/i-must-say-that-the-katrina-response-does-help-me-better-understand/) [Andrew Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sullivan/) > [A positive, high-performance culture can quickly turn negative if the CEO is not rigorous in constantly articulating values and holding people accountable for both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-williams/a-positive-high-performance-culture-can-quickly-turn-negative-if-the/) [Ron Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-williams/) > [“being approachable and accessible, displaying your own fallibility, highlighting failures as learning opportunities, holding people accountable, and clarifying expectations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karissa-thacker/being-approachable-and-accessible-displaying-your-own-fallibility/) [Karissa Thacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karissa-thacker/) > [“Dehumanizing and holding people accountable are mutually exclusive. 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Thieves because they are stealing from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/leaders-who-do-not-hold-their-people-accountable-to-a-set-standard/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) > [I think we need to continue to hold people accountable for their actions. 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