"If we do what we think is right, not try to point-score, people will begin to trust us"
About this Quote
The line captures a pragmatic ethic for public life: act on conviction rather than chase headlines or humiliate rivals, and trust will follow. Francis Maude, a Conservative reformer who helped lead the UK government’s transparency and civil service changes after 2010, often argued that public trust had been damaged by years of spin, expenses scandals, and performative party warfare. His prescription emphasized steady, practical decisions that could be defended on their merits instead of shallow victories in the day’s news cycle.
Point-scoring promises quick applause but erodes credibility because it signals that appearances matter more than outcomes. Doing what one believes is right, by contrast, sets up a longer time horizon: people judge patterns, notice consistency between words and actions, and decide whether leaders are operating from principle. Trust is cumulative; it grows when choices are explained, evidence is published, and mistakes are owned rather than spun away. Maude’s push for open data and clear accountability in procurement and spending used that logic: expose decisions to scrutiny, and confidence can be rebuilt.
There is a tension embedded in the phrase "what we think is right". Sincerity alone does not guarantee good judgment. The ethic only works when conviction is joined to humility, listening, and a willingness to revise positions in light of facts. Trust depends on competence as much as integrity. If leaders stubbornly pursue misguided courses because they feel right, the public will not reward them.
The broader message resists a polarizing media environment that rewards outrage and one-upmanship. It suggests that credibility accrues to those who forgo cheap wins, communicate plainly, collaborate across divides, and accept the costs of doing the hard, sometimes unglamorous work of reform. Over time, steady service outlasts the noise. People begin to trust when they can see motives, methods, and results aligning with a coherent, publicly stated purpose.
Point-scoring promises quick applause but erodes credibility because it signals that appearances matter more than outcomes. Doing what one believes is right, by contrast, sets up a longer time horizon: people judge patterns, notice consistency between words and actions, and decide whether leaders are operating from principle. Trust is cumulative; it grows when choices are explained, evidence is published, and mistakes are owned rather than spun away. Maude’s push for open data and clear accountability in procurement and spending used that logic: expose decisions to scrutiny, and confidence can be rebuilt.
There is a tension embedded in the phrase "what we think is right". Sincerity alone does not guarantee good judgment. The ethic only works when conviction is joined to humility, listening, and a willingness to revise positions in light of facts. Trust depends on competence as much as integrity. If leaders stubbornly pursue misguided courses because they feel right, the public will not reward them.
The broader message resists a polarizing media environment that rewards outrage and one-upmanship. It suggests that credibility accrues to those who forgo cheap wins, communicate plainly, collaborate across divides, and accept the costs of doing the hard, sometimes unglamorous work of reform. Over time, steady service outlasts the noise. People begin to trust when they can see motives, methods, and results aligning with a coherent, publicly stated purpose.
Quote Details
| Topic | Honesty & Integrity |
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