--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You don't have the right to hold somebody…" description: "\"You don't have the right to hold somebody accountable for standards you refuse to apply to yourself.\" — Stephen A. Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/stephen-a-smith-7133_accountable_you-don-t-have-the-right-to-hold-somebod_2310021.jpg" --- # You don't have the right to hold somebody accountable for… ![“You don't have the right to hold somebody accountable for standards you refuse to apply to yourself.” quote by Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/stephen-a-smith-7133_accountable_you-don-t-have-the-right-to-hold-somebod_2310021.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/stephen-a-smith-7133_accountable_you-don-t-have-the-right-to-hold-somebod_2310021.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/stephen-a-smith-7133_accountable_you-don-t-have-the-right-to-hold-somebod_2310021.jpg) > “You don't have the right to hold somebody accountable for standards you refuse to apply to yourself.” [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One cannot judge others by standards they themselves do not follow. **In simple terms:** Apply standards to yourself first. Key Takeaway Practice what you preach. Themes integrity accountability fairness Mood critical direct Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - team management - public discourse - leadership training Key Concepts ethical consistency self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What standards do you hold yourself to? - How can you model the behavior you expect? A Different Perspective People often overlook their own flaws when criticizing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accountable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountable/) [Accountable Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountable-standards-4850813/) [Hypocrite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypocrite/) [Judgement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgement/) [Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse/) [Refuse Apply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse-apply-5241309/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Somebody Accountable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somebody-accountable-5483579/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Standards Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards-refuse-267376/) ## Related quotes > [You cannot hold a child accountable to the same standards that you hold an adult accountable to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-ball/you-cannot-hold-a-child-accountable-to-the-same-standards-that-you/) [Alan Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-ball/) > [Hypocrites are those who apply to others the standards that they refuse to accept for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/hypocrites-are-those-who-apply-to-others-the-standards-that-they/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The problems of the real world are primarily those you are left with when you refuse to apply their effective solutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-problems-of-the-real-world-are-primarily-those-you-are-left-with/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [We all have to hold each other accountable and point that behavior out to each other in a kind way. I guess what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-ellis/we-all-have-to-hold-each-other-accountable-and-point-that-behavior/) [Mary Elizabeth Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-ellis/) > [If you're going to give people authority and hold them responsible and ultimately accountable for their performance, you've got to get out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority-and-hold-them-responsible/) [Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/) > [There are multi-scatterings of various and associated issues and concerns, but it all boils down to accountable people versus those unwilling to be accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/there-are-multi-scatterings-of-various-and-associated-issues-and/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [If you can't hold yourself accountable and get your job done then you're not going to be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-amendola/if-you-can-t-hold-yourself-accountable-and-get-your-job-done-then-you/) [Danny Amendola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-amendola/) > [It means a lot. It means I'm accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champ-bailey/it-means-a-lot-it-means-i-m-accountable/) [Champ Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champ-bailey/) > [We will make government more accountable. We will cut fraud, waste and abuse in our budget. But we will not do it by leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/we-will-make-government-more-accountable-we-will-cut-fraud-waste-and/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > [When you're in a relationship, please believe that you are held accountable for every feeling felt, word spoken, and heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/when-you-re-in-a-relationship-please-believe-that-you-are-held/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [Be aware and hold the government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/be-aware-and-hold-the-government-accountable/) [Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/) > [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) ## More by Stephen A. Smith > [You can criticize me. You can crucify me. You can love me. You can hate me. Just don't make the mistake of calling me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/you-can-criticize-me-you-can-crucify-me-you-can-love-me-you-can-hate/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [There's nothing about Tony Romo that deserves to be associated with America's Team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/there-s-nothing-about-tony-romo-that-deserves-to-be-associated-with/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [When I was at the 'Philadelphia Inquirer,' I was promoted nine times in my first 13 years. I ultimately went from general assignment to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/when-i-was-at-the-philadelphia-inquirer-i-was-promoted-nine-times-in/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [I was the youngest of six, with four older sisters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/i-was-the-youngest-of-six-with-four-older-sisters/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [I'm associated with Walt Disney, but dammit, everybody knows that I'm a bottom feeder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/i-m-associated-with-walt-disney-but-dammit-everybody-knows-that-i-m-a/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [No one on the planet Earth is going to be able to look at me on television and say that I'm a liar. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/no-one-on-the-planet-earth-is-going-to-be-able-to-look-at-me-on/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [I'm not just a black man, I'm a brotha. I love my people. When I'm on the air I am fully aware that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/i-m-not-just-a-black-man-i-m-a-brotha-i-love-my-people-when-i-m-on/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [Maybe, instead of putting our standards on other people, we should be very reticent, apprehensive, and deliberate and methodical in choosing whom we choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/maybe-instead-of-putting-our-standards-on-other-people-we-should-be/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [Don't fake what you feel. I've never been about that. I never will be about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/don-t-fake-what-you-feel-i-ve-never-been-about-that-i-never-will-be/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [There are many dimensions to Stephen A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/there-are-many-dimensions-to-stephen-a/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [I know what I know, and what I don't know, I'm willing to admit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/i-know-what-i-know-and-what-i-don-t-know-i-m-willing-to-admit/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [If you are the president of the United States of America, you are 70 years of age, and you are tweeting - literally competing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/if-you-are-the-president-of-the-united-states-of-america-you-are-70/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [A season is not made in a week or two any more than a stellar game epitomizes greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/a-season-is-not-made-in-a-week-or-two-any-more-than-a-stellar-game/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [I don't consider myself just a black man. I consider myself a brotha. I love my people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/i-don-t-consider-myself-just-a-black-man-i-consider-myself-a-brotha-i/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [If you are in the world of business, that means you are in the business of making money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/if-you-are-in-the-world-of-business-that-means-you-are-in-the/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) [Explore all 93 Stephen A. Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) ## More Accountable quotes > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Be aware and hold the government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/be-aware-and-hold-the-government-accountable/) [Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/) > [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [When you're in a relationship, please believe that you are held accountable for every feeling felt, word spoken, and heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/when-you-re-in-a-relationship-please-believe-that-you-are-held/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [We will make government more accountable. We will cut fraud, waste and abuse in our budget. But we will not do it by leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/we-will-make-government-more-accountable-we-will-cut-fraud-waste-and/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > [It means a lot. It means I'm accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champ-bailey/it-means-a-lot-it-means-i-m-accountable/) [Champ Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champ-bailey/) > [If you can't hold yourself accountable and get your job done then you're not going to be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-amendola/if-you-can-t-hold-yourself-accountable-and-get-your-job-done-then-you/) [Danny Amendola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-amendola/) > [There are multi-scatterings of various and associated issues and concerns, but it all boils down to accountable people versus those unwilling to be accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/there-are-multi-scatterings-of-various-and-associated-issues-and/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [If you're going to give people authority and hold them responsible and ultimately accountable for their performance, you've got to get out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority-and-hold-them-responsible/) [Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/) > [We all have to hold each other accountable and point that behavior out to each other in a kind way. I guess what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-ellis/we-all-have-to-hold-each-other-accountable-and-point-that-behavior/) [Mary Elizabeth Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-ellis/) > [“The mistakes you make now count. Not for everything, and not forever. But they do matter, and they shape you...make your choices well. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-mistakes-you-make-now-count-not-for-everything-and-not-forever/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [In the church we have to deliberately let ourselves be transparent and accountable to others. We're a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/in-the-church-we-have-to-deliberately-let-ourselves-be-transparent/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I feel like I'm held more accountable to stay healthy now because now I'm a role model to young girls to not have eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/i-feel-like-i-m-held-more-accountable-to-stay-healthy-now-because-now/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) [Browse all 351 Accountable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You don't have the right to hold somebody accountable for standards you refuse to apply to yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen A. 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