Transparency Quotes

• Trust, honesty, humility, transparency and accountability are the building blocks of a positive reputation. Trust is the foundation of any relationship.

  Mike Paul

  Trust, Honesty, Block

  230 Copy quote

• Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway.

  Mother Teresa

  Being Yourself, Honesty, Vulnerable

  244 Copy quote

• A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity.

  Dalai Lama

  Inspirational, Inspiring, Insecure

  236 Copy quote

• Speak the truth. Transparency breeds legitimacy.

  John C. Maxwell

  Inspirational, Speak, Legitimacy

  236 Copy quote

• While transparency reduces corruption, good governance goes beyond transparency in achieving openness. Openness means involving the stakeholders in decision-making process. Transparency is the right to information while openness is the right to participation.

  Narendra Modi

  Mean, Decision, India

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• Transparency is all about letting in and embracing new ideas, new technology and new approaches. No individual, entity or agency, no matter how smart, how old, or how experienced, can afford to stop learning.

  Gina McCarthy

  Smart, Technology, Agency

  88 Copy quote

• Secrecy is the linchpin of abuse of power, . . . its enabling force. Transparency is the only real antidote.

  Glenn Greenwald

  Real, Political, Abuse

  Glenn Greenwald (2014). “No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State”, p.21, Signal

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• A successful life is an authentic life. Happiness and creativity rest on a foundation of transparency to yourself and others. Knowing your own heart and speaking clearly to others keep you on the path.

  Gay Hendricks

  Heart, Creativity, Successful

  145 Copy quote

• Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Inspirational, Positive, Wisdom

  Thomas Jefferson (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson”, p.112

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• But nothing is more opaque
  than absolute transparency.

  Margaret Atwood

  Opaque, Absolutes

  Margaret Atwood (2015). “Morning in the Burned House”, p.46, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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  The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.

  Patrick Henry

  Fake People, Freedom, 4th Of July

  "The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution: Volume 3". Book by Jonathan Elliot, 1836.

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• Perfect sincerity and transparency make a great part of beauty, as in dewdrops, lakes, and diamonds.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Lakes, Perfect, Sincerity

  Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.2018, Delphi Classics

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• My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government.

  Barack Obama

  Government, Effectiveness, Creating

  "Open Government Directive: Obama Moves On Transparency Promise" by Rachel Weiner, www.huffingtonpost.com. March 18, 2010.

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  I think the currency of leadership is transparency. You've got to be truthful. I don't think you should be vulnerable every day, but there are moments where you've got to share your soul and conscience with people and show them who you are, and not be afraid of it.

  Howard Schultz

  Inspirational, Leadership, Being Yourself

  102 Copy quote

• Secrecy was the problem; transparency the obvious cure.

  Robert J. Sawyer

  Problem, Conspiracy, Secrecy

  Robert J. Sawyer (2010). “WWW: Watch”, p.254, Penguin

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• Truth never damages a cause that is just.

  Mahatma Gandhi

  Inspirational, Inspiring, Truth

  Mahatma Gandhi, Thomas Merton (2007). “Gandhi on Non-Violence”, p.47, New Directions Publishing

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• I find that when you open the door toward openness and transparency, a lot of people will follow you through.

  Kirsten Gillibrand

  Doors, People, Openness

  "Reforming the Way Washington Works". www.huffingtonpost.com. July 20, 2010.

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• If I am transparent enough to myself, then I can become less afraid of those hidden selves that my transparency may reveal to others. If I reveal myself without worrying about how others will respond, then some will care, though others may not. But who can love me, if no one knows me? I must risk it, or live alone. It is enough that I must die alone. I am determined to let down my walls, whatever the risks, if it means that I may have whatever is there for me.

  Sheldon B. Kopp

  Wall, Mean, Self

  SHELDON B KOPP (1972). “IF YOU MEET THE BUDDHA ON THE ROAD KILL HIM THE PILGRIMAGE OF PSYCHOTHERAPY PATIENTS”

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• Transparency is for those who carry out public duties and exercise public power. Privacy is for everyone else.

  Glenn Greenwald

  Exercise, Privacy, Duty

  "No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State". Book by Glenn Greenwald, 2014.

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• Transparency is the new objectivity.

  David Weinberger

  Objectivity

  "Does journalism still require impartiality?" by Kellie Riordan, www.theguardian.com. September 4, 2014.

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• The keys to brand success are self-definition, transparency, authenticity and accountability.

  Simon Mainwaring

  Inspirational, Business, Real

  Twitter post from Jan 10, 2016

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• A lack of transparency that fuels the idea that she is either hiding something or simply not someone to be trusted.

  Christopher Michael Cillizza

  Hiding Something, Ideas, Fuel

  "The Fix Live". live.washingtonpost.com. June 24, 2016.

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• One man's transparency is another's humiliation.

  Gerry Adams

  Men, Humiliation, One Man

  "Collaboration 2. 0: Technology and Best Practices for Successful". Book by Gerry Adams. Happy About, p. 93, January 1, 2008.

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• The best way to prove the clearness of our mind, is by showing its faults; as when a stream discovers the dirt at the bottom, it convinces us of the transparency and purity of the water.

  Alexander Pope

  Convince Us, Water, Mind

  Alexander Pope, William Roscoe (1847). “The works of Alexander Pope, esq., with notes and illustrations, by himself and others. To which are added, a new life of the author, an Estimate of his poetical character and writings, and occasional remarks by William Roscoe, esq”, p.378

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• Transparency is not about restoring trust in institutions. Transparency is the politics of managing mistrust.

  Ivan Krastev

  Institutions, Mistrust, Restoring

  15 Copy quote