We can not lower our standards to what we think will pay, but we must raise them to what we think is right.
Meaning
Coolidge delivered this at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day 1924, linking freedom with obligation. Success measured only by profit can corrupt. When a shortcut would pay off but feels wrong, choose the harder, honest option and let your reputation build over time.
Source: Speech at Arlington National Cemetery (1924)
About the author
Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) was the 30th President of the United States, serving from 1923 to 1929. He was known for his reserved manner, fiscal restraint and plainspoken speeches.
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