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About this quote

What does it mean?
Public officials should refuse expensive gifts to maintain integrity.
In plain terms
Officials should not take costly presents.
What can you take from it?
Decline expensive gifts to stay ethical in public service.

Where it applies

  • government work
  • leadership
  • business ethics

Putting it to work

  • decline gifts
  • follow ethics rules
  • be transparent

Questions to consider

  • How do you handle gifts at work?
  • What builds trust in leaders?

Another view

Some small tokens may be culturally appropriate and harmless.

More from Mahatma Gandhi

  1. Service is no mushroom growth. It presupposes the will first and then experience.

    Permalink to quote #75
  2. The deeper the search in the mine of truth, the richer the discovery of gems buried here in the shape of openings for an ever greater variety of services.

    Permalink to quote #73
  3. Heavy is the toll of sins and wrongs that wealth, power and prestige extract from man.

    Permalink to quote #76

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