--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A life of integrity usually begins with…" description: "\"“A life of integrity usually begins with saying no to compromise, facing the truth and doing what is right, even when it is difficult. It’s been said t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/steve-goodier-7151_doing-the-right-thin_a-life-of-integrity-usually-begins-with_1793470.jpg" --- # A life of integrity usually begins with saying no to… ![“A life of integrity usually begins with saying no to compromise, facing the truth and doing what is right, even when it is difficult. It’s been said that if you have integrity, nothing else matters. But it’s also true that if you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.” quote by Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/steve-goodier-7151_doing-the-right-thin_a-life-of-integrity-usually-begins-with_1793470.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/steve-goodier-7151_doing-the-right-thin_a-life-of-integrity-usually-begins-with_1793470.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/steve-goodier-7151_doing-the-right-thin_a-life-of-integrity-usually-begins-with_1793470.jpg) > ““A life of integrity usually begins with saying no to compromise, facing the truth and doing what is right, even when it is difficult. It’s been said that if you have integrity, nothing else matters. But it’s also true that if you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.”” [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Integrity means consistently choosing truth and right actions over easy compromises, even when hard. **In simple terms:** Integrity is choosing right over easy. Key Takeaway Prioritize truth over convenience. Themes ethics character courage Mood serious reflective Type moral inspirational When to use this quote - making decisions - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts Moral philosophy personal integrity Questions to Reflect On - What would you refuse to compromise on? - How does integrity affect your relationships? A Different Perspective Integrity can be costly and socially isolating. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing the right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-the-right-thing/) [Doing What Is Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-what-is-right/) [Guiding principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guiding-principles/) [Hard decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-decisions/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Self respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-respect/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“The real prize for living with integrity is making yourself proud.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/the-real-prize-for-living-with-integrity-is-making-yourself-proud/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [Someone once said that integrity comes from caring about what other people think of you; but I don't think that integrity comes from caring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someone-once-said-that-integrity-comes-from-caring-about-what-other-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People have said there is an integrity about me, and I think there is. I don't try to follow a trend. I have my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brightman/people-have-said-there-is-an-integrity-about-me-and-i-think-there-is/) [Sarah Brightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brightman/) > [“Someone once said that integrity comes from caring about what other people think of you; but I don't think that integrity comes from caring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/someone-once-said-that-integrity-comes-from-caring-about-what-other/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [I use the lessons my father taught me every day. And I believe the simple value of integrity matters, even in a complicated place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/i-use-the-lessons-my-father-taught-me-every-day-and-i-believe-the/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) > [I may be a little old-fashioned, but I actually believe that if you live and work in our house and you work on our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/i-may-be-a-little-old-fashioned-but-i-actually-believe-that-if-you/) [Matthew Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-dowd/) > [Integrity matters. What our fans think matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/integrity-matters-what-our-fans-think-matters/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-have-integrity-nothing-else-matters-if-you-don-t-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“but I had learned a valuable lesson: integrity matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wayne/but-i-had-learned-a-valuable-lesson-integrity-matters/) [Jimmy Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wayne/) > [The foundation of a disciplined life is integrity and doing what we say we're going to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-vaden/the-foundation-of-a-disciplined-life-is-integrity-and-doing-what-we/) [Rory Vaden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-vaden/) > [“After all, everyone may not start with the same financial opportunities; however everyone does start with the choice to live their life with integrity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-hoggatt/after-all-everyone-may-not-start-with-the-same-financial/) [Tasha Hoggatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-hoggatt/) > [“Honesty and contentment are the pathways that lead to a life of integrity and generosity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-rohrmayer/honesty-and-contentment-are-the-pathways-that-lead-to-a-life-of/) [Gary Rohrmayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-rohrmayer/) > [It seems to me that if God calls us to anything it's to a life of integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/it-seems-to-me-that-if-god-calls-us-to-anything-it-s-to-a-life-of/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) > [The most important thing in your life is to live your life with integrity and to not give in to peer pressure to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/the-most-important-thing-in-your-life-is-to-live-your-life-with/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [In my life, I'm just looking for that life of integrity that my father had. I have a good heart; I'm not a heartbreaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnathon-schaech/in-my-life-i-m-just-looking-for-that-life-of-integrity-that-my-father/) [Johnathon Schaech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnathon-schaech/) ## More by Steve Goodier > [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/) > [“Do you keep pace with those around you, or do you decide yourself just how you will live your life? The truth is...only you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/do-you-keep-pace-with-those-around-you-or-do-you-decide-yourself-just/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [“No work you'll ever complete; no project you'll ever attempt; no skill you'll ever master; no book you'll ever write; no race you'll ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/no-work-you-ll-ever-complete-no-project-you-ll-ever-attempt-no-skill/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [The key to good listening isn't technique, it's desire. Until we truly want to understand the other person, we'll never listen well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/the-key-to-good-listening-isn-t-technique-it-s-desire-until-we-truly/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [“An authentic and genuine life grows like a sturdy tree. And like a tree, it grows slowly. Every time you make a different and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/an-authentic-and-genuine-life-grows-like-a-sturdy-tree-and-like-a/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [But let me offer a word of caution. If you choose to give from your heart, be careful. The most incredible feeling might just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/but-let-me-offer-a-word-of-caution-if-you-choose-to-give-from-your/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [Get yourself grounded and you can navigate even the stormiest roads in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/get-yourself-grounded-and-you-can-navigate-even-the-stormiest-roads/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [“A sense of humor helps us to get through the dull times, cope with the difficult times, enjoy the good times and manage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/a-sense-of-humor-helps-us-to-get-through-the-dull-times-cope-with-the/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [Learn - improve - grow - live. Learn as if you might live forever and you'll live as if you might die tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/learn-improve-grow-live-learn-as-if-you-might-live-forever-and-you-ll/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [“Success and winning is often about victories won in the hidden recesses of the heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/success-and-winning-is-often-about-victories-won-in-the-hidden/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [Let go of a need for personal recognition. Heap kudos on others and they'll perform even better next time. Leaders are only as good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/let-go-of-a-need-for-personal-recognition-heap-kudos-on-others-and/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [One good wish changes nothing. But one good decision changes everything. Your power to choose, to make a good decision, spells the difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/one-good-wish-changes-nothing-but-one-good-decision-changes/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [“Human touch is vital. Without it, we wither. With it, we thrive. And it is good preventive medicine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/human-touch-is-vital-without-it-we-wither-with-it-we-thrive-and-it-is/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [In truth I suspect that merely slowing down is not a very satisfying answer. What I need has less to do with my pace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/in-truth-i-suspect-that-merely-slowing-down-is-not-a-very-satisfying/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [“Still the voices of your critics. Listen intently to your own voice, to the person who knows you best. Then answer these questions: Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/still-the-voices-of-your-critics-listen-intently-to-your-own-voice-to/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) [Explore all 94 Steve Goodier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) ## More Doing the right thing quotes > [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/) [Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/) > [Money will come to you when you are doing the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phillips/money-will-come-to-you-when-you-are-doing-the-right-thing/) [Michael Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phillips/) > [It's all about doing the right things at the right times and I believe I can win everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-cross/it-s-all-about-doing-the-right-things-at-the-right-times-and-i/) [Rob Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-cross/) > [You should never be proud of doing the right thing. You should just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/you-should-never-be-proud-of-doing-the-right-thing-you-should-just-do/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [“Management is about doing things right; leadership is about doing the right things. Peter Drucker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-banfield/management-is-about-doing-things-right-leadership-is-about-doing-the/) [Richard Banfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-banfield/) > [There are certain things that we can deal with by following the rules. But at times, we find the rules restrict you from doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/there-are-certain-things-that-we-can-deal-with-by-following-the-rules/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [Never let making a profit stand in the way of doing the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-jenkins/never-let-making-a-profit-stand-in-the-way-of-doing-the-right-thing/) George W. Jenkins > [“Doing the right thing causes us to stand taller, dance more often, and step into life with more confidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patsy-clairmont/doing-the-right-thing-causes-us-to-stand-taller-dance-more-often-and/) [Patsy Clairmont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patsy-clairmont/) > [“Health, peace of mind, peak performance, and success in any area of life all depend upon doing the right thing at the right time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobe-hanson/health-peace-of-mind-peak-performance-and-success-in-any-area-of-life/) [Tobe Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobe-hanson/) > [Sometimes you have to steer away from the crowd in order to be a better person. It's not always easy, that's for sure. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/sometimes-you-have-to-steer-away-from-the-crowd-in-order-to-be-a/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [Doing the right thing at all costs is an absolute, and only a sith deals in absolutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-filoni/doing-the-right-thing-at-all-costs-is-an-absolute-and-only-a-sith/) [Dave Filoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-filoni/) > [ \[If\] we can celebrate that in a way that celebrates our love for New England as well as our love for the Italian culture… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-batali/if-we-can-celebrate-that-in-a-way-that-celebrates-our-love-for-new/) [Mario Batali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-batali/) > [“What sort of man could you love for a lifetime?" he asked her. She was silent for a while. He guessed that she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/what-sort-of-man-could-you-love-for-a-lifetime-he-asked-her-she-was/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [Sometimes you cannot do anything because the guy in front of you is playing well and he's doing the right things to make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-wilfried-tsonga/sometimes-you-cannot-do-anything-because-the-guy-in-front-of-you-is/) [Jo-Wilfried Tsonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-wilfried-tsonga/) > [Being trustworthy requires: Doing the right thing. And doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-peppers/being-trustworthy-requires-doing-the-right-thing-and-doing-things/) [Don Peppers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-peppers/) [Browse all 619 Doing the right thing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-the-right-thing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A life of integrity usually begins with saying no to compromise, facing the truth and doing what is right, even when it is difficult. It’s been said that if you have integrity, nothing else matters. 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