---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Personal integrity is important, not…"
description: "\"Personal integrity is important, not because it gets us what we want, but because it helps us be what we want.\" — Michael Josephson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/michael-josephson-2363_helping_personal-integrity-is-important-not-beca_3005369.png"
---

#  Personal integrity is important, not because it gets us…

![“Personal integrity is important, not because it gets us what we want, but because it helps us be what we want.” quote by Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/michael-josephson-2363_helping_personal-integrity-is-important-not-beca_3005369.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/michael-josephson-2363_helping_personal-integrity-is-important-not-beca_3005369.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/michael-josephson-2363_helping_personal-integrity-is-important-not-beca_3005369.png)

> “Personal integrity is important, not because it gets us what we want, but because it helps us be what we want.”

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

## About This Quote

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

Integrity matters not for gain but to become the person you aspire to be.

**In simple terms:** Integrity defines self.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize honesty over outcomes.

Themes

integrity character authenticity

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- leadership
- personal relationships
- career decisions
- public service

Key Concepts

ethics self‑development

Questions to Reflect On

- What does integrity look like in your life?
- When is it hardest to stay true to yourself?

A Different Perspective

Integrity can be costly in competitive environments.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Personal integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-integrity/)

## Related quotes

> [I have often spoken of integrity as the most important of these values, realizing that integrity – and personal integrity, at that – is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verghese-kurien/i-have-often-spoken-of-integrity-as-the-most-important-of-these/)

[Verghese Kurien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verghese-kurien/)

> [I think when you work really hard and you help others, God helps you get what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-rodriguez/i-think-when-you-work-really-hard-and-you-help-others-god-helps-you/)

[Gina Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-rodriguez/)

> [For me, Spotify is not even a necessary evil. It helps me do what I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sheeran/for-me-spotify-is-not-even-a-necessary-evil-it-helps-me-do-what-i/)

[Ed Sheeran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sheeran/)

> [Personal integrity in Achilles achieves the form and authority of immanent divinity, with its inviolable, lonely singleness, half repellent because of its almost inhuman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-h-whitman/personal-integrity-in-achilles-achieves-the-form-and-authority-of/)

[Cedric H Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-h-whitman/)

> [I'm not a Saban guy, because I don't like liars, and I think he lied. I think he lied to the Miami Dolphins and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-jaworski/i-m-not-a-saban-guy-because-i-don-t-like-liars-and-i-think-he-lied-i/)

[Ron Jaworski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-jaworski/)

> [Fame or integrity: which is more important? Money or happiness: which is more valuable? Success or failure: which is more destructive? If you look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fame-or-integrity-which-is-more-important-money-or-happiness-which-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think integrity's important; really important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-frost/i-think-integrity-s-important-really-important/)

[Jo Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-frost/)

> [“Integrity is important as influence! Lead with integrity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/integrity-is-important-as-influence-lead-with-integrity/)

Anyaele Sam Chiyson

> [Honesty and integrity is an important part of our character, my character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/honesty-and-integrity-is-an-important-part-of-our-character-my/)

[Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/)

> [Integrity is important in building relationships. And is the foundation upon which many other qualities for success are built, such as respect, dignity, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/integrity-is-important-in-building-relationships-and-is-the/)

[John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/)

> [“I've done some stupid things I regret, but I've managed to keep my integrity. Which is important because integrity is fragile. Break it once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-heatt/i-ve-done-some-stupid-things-i-regret-but-i-ve-managed-to-keep-my/)

[Jonathan Heatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-heatt/)

> [“Integrity is the most important accessory you'll ever have, it will never go out of fashion, get old, or fade. It's the greatest investment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-jones/integrity-is-the-most-important-accessory-you-ll-ever-have-it-will/)

Alexis Jones

> [Your Integrity is more important than your immediate Life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/your-integrity-is-more-important-than-your-immediate-life/)

[L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/)

> [Golf is a game of ego, but it is also a game of integrity: the most important thing is you do what is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-watson/golf-is-a-game-of-ego-but-it-is-also-a-game-of-integrity-the-most/)

[Tom Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-watson/)

> [My mother said I broke her heart...but it was my integrity that was important. Is that so selfish? It sells for so little, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/my-mother-said-i-broke-her-heart-but-it-was-my-integrity-that-was/)

[Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/)

## More by Michael Josephson

> [No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. And it isn't determined by a single noble act. Character is established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-one-is-born-with-good-character-it-s-not-a-hereditary-trait-and-it/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [America is a song that sounds the best when we all sing together - at least for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/america-is-a-song-that-sounds-the-best-when-we-all-sing-together-at/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/approach-the-new-year-with-resolve-to-find-the-opportunities-hidden/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [The difference between stepping stones and stumbling blocks is not in the event itself but how you think about it and what you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/the-difference-between-stepping-stones-and-stumbling-blocks-is-not-in/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [Pretty isn't beauty. Pretty is how you look; Beauty is who you are. Pretty is in the face and body; Beauty is in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/pretty-isn-t-beauty-pretty-is-how-you-look-beauty-is-who-you-are/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [Sportsmanship is the ethical and moral dimension of sports. It is demonstrated by a number of attributes and attitudes such as fair play, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/sportsmanship-is-the-ethical-and-moral-dimension-of-sports-it-is/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [Surround our children with a message of honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/surround-our-children-with-a-message-of-honor/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [The key to success is effort. The bigger the goal, the greater the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/the-key-to-success-is-effort-the-bigger-the-goal-the-greater-the/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [“We can't live forever but what we do can change lives forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/we-can-t-live-forever-but-what-we-do-can-change-lives-forever/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [Take pride in how far you've come. Have faith in how far you can go. But don't forget to enjoy the journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/take-pride-in-how-far-you-ve-come-have-faith-in-how-far-you-can-go/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [Leadership is not a matter of authority, it is a matter of influence. A true leader teaches others to understand more, motivates them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/leadership-is-not-a-matter-of-authority-it-is-a-matter-of-influence-a/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [People who don't believe in you are right only if you believe they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/people-who-don-t-believe-in-you-are-right-only-if-you-believe-they-are/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [There is within you, waiting to be called, a great source of power called courage. Call its name and it will give you the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/there-is-within-you-waiting-to-be-called-a-great-source-of-power/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [No word makes me happier than the word "daddy" when it's directed to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-word-makes-me-happier-than-the-word-daddy-when-it-s-directed-to-me/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [Ethics is not for wimps. It's not easy being a good person. That's why it's such a lofty goal and an admirable achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/ethics-is-not-for-wimps-it-s-not-easy-being-a-good-person-that-s-why/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

[Explore all 170 Michael Josephson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

## More Helping quotes

> [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/)

[Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/)

> [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [“We will all, at some point in our lives, fall. Every single one of us. We shouldn't spend our time trying to avoid falling.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/we-will-all-at-some-point-in-our-lives-fall-every-single-one-of-us-we/)

[Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/)

> [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/)

[Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/)

> [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/)

[Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/)

> [My folks tried to make a preacher of me and missed by a narrow margin… I would have made a good one if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/my-folks-tried-to-make-a-preacher-of-me-and-missed-by-a-narrow-margin/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [You need to remind people that you vote, you matter, and that they can't succeed without your help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-need-to-remind-people-that-you-vote-you-matter-and-that-they-can/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/)

[Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/)

> [Life's unfairness is not irrevocable; we can help balance the scales for others, if not always for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/life-s-unfairness-is-not-irrevocable-we-can-help-balance-the-scales/)

[Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/)

> [We did an episode where she goes out to get a job and she gets fired because she's not good. They hire a babysitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-heaton/we-did-an-episode-where-she-goes-out-to-get-a-job-and-she-gets-fired/)

[Patricia Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-heaton/)

> [The path I choose through the maze makes me what I am. I am not only a thing, but also a way of being--one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/the-path-i-choose-through-the-maze-makes-me-what-i-am-i-am-not-only-a/)

[Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/)

> [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/)

[Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/)

Browse all 17,861 Helping quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Personal integrity is important, not because it gets us what we want, but because it helps us be what we want.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Josephson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/personal-integrity-is-important-not-because-it-gets-us-what-we-want/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Helping"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/personal-integrity-is-important-not-because-it-gets-us-what-we-want/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/michael-josephson-2363_helping_personal-integrity-is-important-not-beca_3005369.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/michael-josephson-2363_helping_personal-integrity-is-important-not-beca_3005369.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/michael-josephson-2363_helping_personal-integrity-is-important-not-beca_3005369.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Personal integrity is important, not because it gets us what we want, but because it helps us be what we want.” — Michael Josephson",
                "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": "Michael Josephson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Personal integrity is important, not because...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/personal-integrity-is-important-not-because-it-gets-us-what-we-want/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/personal-integrity-is-important-not-because-it-gets-us-what-we-want/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
