--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Eventually we have to \"settle up\" and pay…" description: "\"Eventually we have to \"settle up\" and pay the price for our ethical violations. Just remember the old line that says, \"You can pay me now . . . or you ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8b/price-pritchett-12389_ethical_eventually-we-have-to-settle-up-and-pay_1953364.png" --- # Eventually we have to "settle up" and pay the price for… ![“Eventually we have to "settle up" and pay the price for our ethical violations. Just remember the old line that says, "You can pay me now . . . or you can pay me later." Often you can buy some time, but when you "pay later" you'll probably have to pay more.” quote by Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8b/price-pritchett-12389_ethical_eventually-we-have-to-settle-up-and-pay_1953364.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8b/price-pritchett-12389_ethical_eventually-we-have-to-settle-up-and-pay_1953364.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8b/price-pritchett-12389_ethical_eventually-we-have-to-settle-up-and-pay_1953364.png) > “Eventually we have to "settle up" and pay the price for our ethical violations. Just remember the old line that says, "You can pay me now . . . or you can pay me later." Often you can buy some time, but when you "pay later" you'll probably have to pay more.” [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ignoring ethical breaches may delay consequences, but eventually costs increase and damage reputation. **In simple terms:** Ethics ignored leads to higher future costs. Key Takeaway Address violations promptly. Themes ethics accountability consequences Mood cautious reflective Type advisory warning When to use this quote - corporate decision‑making - legal compliance - public relations - financial planning Key Concepts risk management reputation long‑term cost Questions to Reflect On - What ethical shortcuts are you rationalizing? - How can you measure hidden future costs? A Different Perspective Short‑term gains often mask larger long‑term losses. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Pay the price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-the-price/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Violation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violation/) ## Related quotes > [“Here’s the bottom line: We can pay now or we can pay later. It’s our choice. You can pay the price now to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-leclaire/here-s-the-bottom-line-we-can-pay-now-or-we-can-pay-later-it-s-our/) Jennifer LeClaire > [They know the face and they know the name, got one watch that could probably pay for like all your chains. And you'd owe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/they-know-the-face-and-they-know-the-name-got-one-watch-that-could/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [“Keep your eyes on the prize for you cant hit an unseen target but don't forget to pay the price”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/keep-your-eyes-on-the-prize-for-you-cant-hit-an-unseen-target-but-don/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [All wish to be learned, but no one is willing to pay the price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/all-wish-to-be-learned-but-no-one-is-willing-to-pay-the-price/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/i-think-you-can-accomplish-anything-if-you-re-willing-to-pay-the-price/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Do what experts since the dawn of recorded history have told you you must do: pay the price by becoming the person you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/do-what-experts-since-the-dawn-of-recorded-history-have-told-you-you/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [If you really want to know something, you have to be willing to pay the price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/if-you-really-want-to-know-something-you-have-to-be-willing-to-pay/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Don´t pay the price for your past, let your awesome future do this.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/don-t-pay-the-price-for-your-past-let-your-awesome-future-do-this/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [No matter how much you change, you still got to pay the price for the things you’ve done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/no-matter-how-much-you-change-you-still-got-to-pay-the-price-for-the/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [Do lifelong artists pay a price for having chosen to make art? Of course. Everyone pays the price for his or her choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-warner/do-lifelong-artists-pay-a-price-for-having-chosen-to-make-art-of/) Sally Warner > [Boxing is all about timing. And if you take long periods of inactivity, you will be made to pay the price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bellew/boxing-is-all-about-timing-and-if-you-take-long-periods-of-inactivity/) [Tony Bellew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bellew/) > [“success is simple. First, you decide what you want specifically; and second, you decide you’re willing to pay the price to make it happen—and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-robbins/success-is-simple-first-you-decide-what-you-want-specifically-and/) [Anthony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-robbins/) > [Every worthwhile accomplishment has a price tag attached to it. The question is always whether you are willing to pay the price to attain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/every-worthwhile-accomplishment-has-a-price-tag-attached-to-it-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [One cannot pay the price of self-respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/one-cannot-pay-the-price-of-self-respect/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [You cannot buy happiness but you have to pay the price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-dangoor/you-cannot-buy-happiness-but-you-have-to-pay-the-price/) [Robert D Dangoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-dangoor/) ## More by Price Pritchett > [You can’t bake a cake without getting the kitchen messy. Halfway through surgery it looks like there’s been a murder in the operating room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/you-can-t-bake-a-cake-without-getting-the-kitchen-messy-halfway/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [We can't win the struggle for high standards if we just talk a good game . . . we've got to play a good game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/we-can-t-win-the-struggle-for-high-standards-if-we-just-talk-a-good/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [As tough as it sometimes looks on the front end, it's easier to do right than undo wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/as-tough-as-it-sometimes-looks-on-the-front-end-it-s-easier-to-do/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [In these times of self-directed teams, empowered employees, and "boundaryless" organizations, your worth as an individual employee will also get measured by your work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/in-these-times-of-self-directed-teams-empowered-employees-and/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [Some people argue against both optimism and pessimism in favor of so-called realistic thinking. They distrust optimism on the grounds that it causes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/some-people-argue-against-both-optimism-and-pessimism-in-favor-of-so/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [Your doubts are not the product of accurate thinking, but habitual thinking. Years ago you excepted flawed conclusions as correct, begin to live your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/your-doubts-are-not-the-product-of-accurate-thinking-but-habitual/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [We all faced painful ethical challenges before we even knew how to spell our names. There were tough choices. Tradeoffs. Confusing signals regarding how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/we-all-faced-painful-ethical-challenges-before-we-even-knew-how-to/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [Excellence is a process, not just an outcome. Sure, we have to hold out for high standards in the products or services we provide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/excellence-is-a-process-not-just-an-outcome-sure-we-have-to-hold-out/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [Notice that "I" is at the center of the word "ethical." There is no "they." Achieving the ethics of excellence is our individual assignment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/notice-that-i-is-at-the-center-of-the-word-ethical-there-is-no-they/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [The only way we can develop muscle is through regular exercise. As soon as we stop stretching and working toward higher ethics, our standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/the-only-way-we-can-develop-muscle-is-through-regular-exercise-as/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [When you hold out for high standards, people are impressed-but they don't always like you for it. Not everybody will be on your side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/when-you-hold-out-for-high-standards-people-are-impressed-but-they/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [Everybody makes honest mistakes, but there's no such thing as an honest cover-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/everybody-makes-honest-mistakes-but-there-s-no-such-thing-as-an/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [If you must doubt something, doubt your limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/if-you-must-doubt-something-doubt-your-limits/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [High personal standards aren't enough for organizational excellence. You've got to be intolerant of low standards in others. . . . If you accommodate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/high-personal-standards-aren-t-enough-for-organizational-excellence/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [You can't put someone else in charge of your morals. Ethics is a personal discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/you-can-t-put-someone-else-in-charge-of-your-morals-ethics-is-a/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) [Explore all 55 Price Pritchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) ## More Ethical quotes > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [My hope is that if people have the knowledge, and if they actually see where their food comes from and have access to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/my-hope-is-that-if-people-have-the-knowledge-and-if-they-actually-see/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [What our species needs, above all else, is a generally accepted ethical system that is compatible with the scientific knowledge we now possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-our-species-needs-above-all-else-is-a-generally-accepted-ethical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Daily contact with some teachers is itself all-sided ethical education for the child without a spoken precept. Here, too, the real advantage of male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/daily-contact-with-some-teachers-is-itself-all-sided-ethical/) [G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/) > [It is possible to believe in progress as a fact without believing in progress as an ethical principle; but in the catechism of many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norbert-wiener/it-is-possible-to-believe-in-progress-as-a-fact-without-believing-in/) [Norbert Wiener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norbert-wiener/) > [Virtue is as little to be acquired by learning as genius; nay, the idea is barren, and is only to be employed as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/virtue-is-as-little-to-be-acquired-by-learning-as-genius-nay-the-idea/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [I'm a fan of Hugh Kenner, Richard Ellman, Lionel Trilling and Frank Kermode. All these people have taught me how to read - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/i-m-a-fan-of-hugh-kenner-richard-ellman-lionel-trilling-and-frank/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [Of course, corporations and governments have a right to something for their money. They pay the wages. But they don't have the ethical right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/of-course-corporations-and-governments-have-a-right-to-something-for/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) > [It's silly to have as one's sole object in life just making money, accumulating wealth. I work because I enjoy what I'm doing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/it-s-silly-to-have-as-one-s-sole-object-in-life-just-making-money/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“... Ethical cyberexplorers are responsible, yeah? We are friendly ghosts in the machine, not poltergeists or hooligans. We are a growing breed. Over sixty-five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/ethical-cyberexplorers-are-responsible-yeah-we-are-friendly-ghosts-in/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [Undeniably, character does count for our citizens, out communities, and our Nation, and this week we celebrate the importance of character in our individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/undeniably-character-does-count-for-our-citizens-out-communities-and/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“Where are the ethical concerns, that so many people called animal lovers invoke, when you steal the children of wild dog mothers and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-nther-bloch/where-are-the-ethical-concerns-that-so-many-people-called-animal/) Günther Bloch > [In the light of absolute values (religious or ethical) man himself is judged to be limited or imperfect, while he can occasionally accomplish acts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-e-hulme/in-the-light-of-absolute-values-religious-or-ethical-man-himself-is/) [T. E. Hulme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-e-hulme/) Browse all 1,110 Ethical quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Eventually we have to \"settle up\" and pay the price for our ethical violations. 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