---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The buck stops with the guy who signs the…"
description: "\"The buck stops with the guy who signs the checks.\" — Rupert Murdoch"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/rupert-murdoch-2885_buck_the-buck-stops-with-the-guy-who-signs-th_2842251.jpg"
---

#  The buck stops with the guy who signs the checks.

![“The buck stops with the guy who signs the checks.” quote by Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/rupert-murdoch-2885_buck_the-buck-stops-with-the-guy-who-signs-th_2842251.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/rupert-murdoch-2885_buck_the-buck-stops-with-the-guy-who-signs-th_2842251.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/rupert-murdoch-2885_buck_the-buck-stops-with-the-guy-who-signs-th_2842251.jpg)

> “The buck stops with the guy who signs the checks.”

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

## About This Quote

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

Responsibility for decisions rests with those who authorize them, not just the executors.

**In simple terms:** Leaders who approve actions are accountable.

Key Takeaway

Hold decision‑makers accountable.

Themes

responsibility leadership accountability

Mood

serious reflective

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- budget approval
- policy signing
- financial oversight
- executive meetings

Key Concepts

corporate governance ethical decision‑making

Questions to Reflect On

- Who truly signs off on critical choices?
- How can you ensure transparent responsibility?

A Different Perspective

Accountability can be diffused in large organizations.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/)

## Related quotes

> [The buck stops here!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/the-buck-stops-here/)

[Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

> [The buck stops here now! Please invest it wisely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-dangoor/the-buck-stops-here-now-please-invest-it-wisely/)

[Robert D Dangoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-dangoor/)

> [As long as a man stays alive he can't tell what chances will pop up next. But a dead man signs no checks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/as-long-as-a-man-stays-alive-he-can-t-tell-what-chances-will-pop-up/)

[Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/)

> [My uncle out in Texas Can't even write his name He signs his checks with Xs But they cash 'em just the same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/my-uncle-out-in-texas-can-t-even-write-his-name-he-signs-his-checks/)

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

> [“of Emery’s attitude,” he complained as they left the building. “Does he know who signs the checks? I’ve been thinking of replacing him anyway.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-james/of-emery-s-attitude-he-complained-as-they-left-the-building-does-he/)

[Rosalind James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-james/)

> [I do believe that the buck stops here, that I cannot rely upon public opinion polls to tell me what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/i-do-believe-that-the-buck-stops-here-that-i-cannot-rely-upon-public/)

[Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/)

> [Ever the blameless narcissist, Trump always insists that the buck stops wherever convenient - for him, personally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-t-conway-iii/ever-the-blameless-narcissist-trump-always-insists-that-the-buck/)

[George T. Conway III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-t-conway-iii/)

> [I do believe that the buck stops here, that I cannot rely upon public opinion polls to tell me what is right. I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/i-do-believe-that-the-buck-stops-here-that-i-cannot-rely-upon-public-2/)

[Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/)

> [Don't blame the marketing department. The buck stops with the chief executive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/don-t-blame-the-marketing-department-the-buck-stops-with-the-chief/)

[John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/)

> [The NFL is one of the first places where many star players finally see discipline. Finally have an authoritative male figure: Buck stops here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-cowherd/the-nfl-is-one-of-the-first-places-where-many-star-players-finally/)

[Colin Cowherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-cowherd/)

> [“The buck stops here," Ronan said, pulling up the hand brake. "Home shit home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/the-buck-stops-here-ronan-said-pulling-up-the-hand-brake-home-shit/)

[Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/)

> [Where I come from, if there's a buck to be made, you don't ask questions, you go ahead and make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cagney/where-i-come-from-if-there-s-a-buck-to-be-made-you-don-t-ask/)

[James Cagney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cagney/)

> [I don't think I could compare myself to Macaulay Culkin, because we're pretty much two different kinds of actors. He's done a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bonsall/i-don-t-think-i-could-compare-myself-to-macaulay-culkin-because-we-re/)

[Brian Bonsall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bonsall/)

> [“Buck goes through a certain retrogression which brings him back to a more primitive state”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ms-hunton/buck-goes-through-a-certain-retrogression-which-brings-him-back-to-a/)

Ms. Hunton

> [“Buck up,” she whispered to him. “Don’t be such a wuss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-harrison/buck-up-she-whispered-to-him-don-t-be-such-a-wuss/)

[Thea Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-harrison/)

## More by Rupert Murdoch

> [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [I'm a strange mixture of my mother's curiosity; my father, who grew up the son of the manse in a Presbyterian family, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-a-strange-mixture-of-my-mother-s-curiosity-my-father-who-grew-up/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [Climate change poses clear, catastrophic threats. We may not agree on the extent, but we certainly can't afford the risk of inaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/climate-change-poses-clear-catastrophic-threats-we-may-not-agree-on/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [Maybe most Moslems peaceful, but until they recognize and destroy their growing jihadist cancer they must be held responsible,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/maybe-most-moslems-peaceful-but-until-they-recognize-and-destroy/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [Since when are Egyptians not white? All I know are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/since-when-are-egyptians-not-white-all-i-know-are/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [People are playing games on their TV, young men are, and people are shopping... they are not watching their news channels, but they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/people-are-playing-games-on-their-tv-young-men-are-and-people-are/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [Most newspaper companies still have their heads in the sand, but other media companies are aggressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/most-newspaper-companies-still-have-their-heads-in-the-sand-but-other/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [If the head man in a company is not working 12 hours a day, doing things, taking risks, but also standing with his people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/if-the-head-man-in-a-company-is-not-working-12-hours-a-day-doing/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [While we reduce our own carbon footprint we will encourage the companies who truck our DVDs and newspapers, sell us paper, and provide an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/while-we-reduce-our-own-carbon-footprint-we-will-encourage-the/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [I felt that it's best just to be as transparent as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-felt-that-it-s-best-just-to-be-as-transparent-as-possible/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [No one's going to be able to operate without a grounding in the basic sciences. Language would be helpful, although English is becoming increasingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/no-one-s-going-to-be-able-to-operate-without-a-grounding-in-the-basic/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [I challenge anybody to show me an example of bias in Fox News Channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-challenge-anybody-to-show-me-an-example-of-bias-in-fox-news-channel/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [I have never asked a prime minister for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-have-never-asked-a-prime-minister-for-anything/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [I'm not ashamed of any of my papers at all and I'm rather sick of snobs that tell us that they're bad papers, snobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-not-ashamed-of-any-of-my-papers-at-all-and-i-m-rather-sick-of/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [Size and synergies between the different segments of the company matter. As far as we are concerned, the Internet is broadening our opportunity, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/size-and-synergies-between-the-different-segments-of-the-company/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

[Explore all 146 Rupert Murdoch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

## More Buck quotes

> [“Buck up,” she whispered to him. “Don’t be such a wuss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-harrison/buck-up-she-whispered-to-him-don-t-be-such-a-wuss/)

[Thea Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-harrison/)

> [I don't think I could compare myself to Macaulay Culkin, because we're pretty much two different kinds of actors. He's done a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bonsall/i-don-t-think-i-could-compare-myself-to-macaulay-culkin-because-we-re/)

[Brian Bonsall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bonsall/)

> [Where I come from, if there's a buck to be made, you don't ask questions, you go ahead and make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cagney/where-i-come-from-if-there-s-a-buck-to-be-made-you-don-t-ask/)

[James Cagney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cagney/)

> [“Buck goes through a certain retrogression which brings him back to a more primitive state”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ms-hunton/buck-goes-through-a-certain-retrogression-which-brings-him-back-to-a/)

Ms. Hunton

> [I don't think I've hid the fact that I like being Milwaukee Buck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/i-don-t-think-i-ve-hid-the-fact-that-i-like-being-milwaukee-buck/)

[Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/)

> [I've liked country music for forever. And Buck Owens is just one of many country guitarists I like. I think Buck's Sixties records are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-osborne/i-ve-liked-country-music-for-forever-and-buck-owens-is-just-one-of/)

[Buzz Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-osborne/)

> [I'm a lucky buck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-m-a-lucky-buck/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [“Tuck a buck as a puck of luck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/tuck-a-buck-as-a-puck-of-luck/)

[Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/)

> [I will not buck to pressure of delivering to publishers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudha-murty/i-will-not-buck-to-pressure-of-delivering-to-publishers/)

[Sudha Murty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudha-murty/)

> [No, I was talking to the network and Universal about plans for a third season where Buck would go back to Earth and would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-gerard/no-i-was-talking-to-the-network-and-universal-about-plans-for-a-third/)

[Gil Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-gerard/)

> [For every dollar you give away, you'll get a hundred back. And for every buck you steal, you'll lose a thousand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-r-broccoli/for-every-dollar-you-give-away-you-ll-get-a-hundred-back-and-for/)

Albert R. Broccoli

> [Buck wild for all of my people who don't care. Lost like a bunch of black millionaires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busta-rhymes/buck-wild-for-all-of-my-people-who-don-t-care-lost-like-a-bunch-of/)

[Busta Rhymes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busta-rhymes/)

> [I'm not going to write for posterity. I'm going to write to make a buck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-m-not-going-to-write-for-posterity-i-m-going-to-write-to-make-a-buck/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [I hope I don't have to buck the system. But if it requires bucking, I will do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rokita/i-hope-i-don-t-have-to-buck-the-system-but-if-it-requires-bucking-i/)

[Todd Rokita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rokita/)

> [Incumbency adds a layer of advantage on top of this party dominance. But rather than foster an environment in which members of Congress feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/incumbency-adds-a-layer-of-advantage-on-top-of-this-party-dominance/)

[Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/)

Browse all 95 Buck quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The buck stops with the guy who signs the checks.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rupert Murdoch"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/the-buck-stops-with-the-guy-who-signs-the-checks/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Buck"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/the-buck-stops-with-the-guy-who-signs-the-checks/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/rupert-murdoch-2885_buck_the-buck-stops-with-the-guy-who-signs-th_2842251.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/rupert-murdoch-2885_buck_the-buck-stops-with-the-guy-who-signs-th_2842251.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/rupert-murdoch-2885_buck_the-buck-stops-with-the-guy-who-signs-th_2842251.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The buck stops with the guy who signs the checks.” — Rupert Murdoch",
                "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": "Rupert Murdoch",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The buck stops with the guy...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/the-buck-stops-with-the-guy-who-signs-the-checks/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/the-buck-stops-with-the-guy-who-signs-the-checks/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
