Are you looking for some business quotes about integrity?
Having integrity is very important when doing business. Not only that it makes you feel like a decent human being, but it also helps building trust with your audience.
We all admire business people who don’t hurt others in the process of making money. These people become our role models not only for their success in business, but also for their character and humanity.
If you’re here to get inspired with some quotes about integrity in business, you’re in the right place! By the end of this article, you will surely know that money isn’t everything in life and that you need to respect others.
Integrity In Business
Integrity is a set of ethical principles that guide people through life, and therefore in business as well. People with integrity don’t lie no matter what consequences they face.
Integrity is always doing the right thing, even though it might be at your own expense. It’s about not being easily corrupted by money and having a strong sense of community.
Employers often look at whether or not a candidate has integrity. It is a respected quality that frankly all people should possess.
But why is it so hard to find? Why don’t all people have an ethical approach to business?
Probably because of the human nature. It’s not easy to be ethical at your own expense all the time. Especially in business, we know that there are some people who just follow the money.(1)
That’s we we compiled a list with the best quotes about ethics and integrity that we can find. Enjoy.
1. “We learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters… that you don’t take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules … and success doesn’t count unless you earn it fair and square.” – Michelle Obama
There is no secret that the former first lady doesn’t lack integrity. People shouldn’t create their own set of rules in order to win.
There are no shortcuts in business and winning fair is the only way to do it. If you make money by hurting other people, then it shouldn’t count.
Michelle Obama is a real role model for young girls everywhere.(2)
2. “In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And, if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.” – Warren Buffett
As we mentioned above, employers often look for integrity in a candidate. Warren Buffett is not only one of the richest men on the planet, but also an ethical investor.
Integrity is obviously an important quality to him. Also, he believes that being intelligent and full of energy is bad if you don’t have integrity as well.(3)
In an interview with Inc.com, Mr. Buffett stated that integrity is the first quality he looks at when he wants to hire someone. Also, he said that it doesn’t matter how smart the person is, because without integrity, the entire company would go down.(3)
3. “If you believe in unlimited quality and act in all your business dealings with total integrity, the rest will take care of itself.” – Frank Perdue
Frank Perdue was one of the best businessmen of the last century. He was the CEO of Perdue Farms, one of the biggest companies that produce chicken in the United States.
It is a known fact that he believed in the fact that if you have integrity and act in an ethical fashion, everything will be fine and you will make profit.
When people see that you are ethical in your business endeavors, they will be more than likely to trust you, and therefore do business with you. Especially the richest people on the planet.
Those people don’t care if they can make a couple more bucks if they associate with you. If they see that you are not ethical, they will simply not want to deal with you.(4)
4. “When you are able to maintain your own highest standards of integrity – regardless of what others may do – you are destined for greatness.” – Napoleon Hill
As one of the most influential business authors, Napoleon Hill surely had some inspiring quotes to offer. He was a big believer in the law of attraction and the fact that you can create your own reality.
Surely you’ve experienced something happening to you that you know was because you thought about it. We all know that the law of attraction exist, and we try to take advantage of it as much as we can.(5)
Napoleon Hill believed that if you are ethical and do no wrong to other people, you will be successful in the end. Because otherwise, there would be no point in having integrity.
5. “I am sure that in estimating every man’s value either in private or public life, a pure integrity is the quality we take first into calculation, and that learning and talents are only the second.” – Thomas Jefferson
As a former president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson believed that a person’s talent is not as important as his integrity.
In business, it’s a big risk when dealing with talented people that have no integrity. You need to trust the people next to you, which is very difficult nowadays.
Try surrounding yourself with trustworthy people and you will be surprised how well your business starts performing.(6)
On the other hand, if you have very talented people that are not ethical, your business is doomed to fail. Because everyone would just follow their own interest.
Final Thoughts
Integrity in business is very important. It should one of the qualities included in your mission statement no matter what.
I’m sure you’ve noticed that the companies with strong values tend to be the most successful ones. Starting your own business is very exciting and you should always be ethical.
Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this series of quotes. If you want to learn more about business, I suggest taking the One Funnel Away Challenge. You will not be sorry.
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Andrew is an entrepreneur and has been in the business game for a couple of years. Read more