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About this quote

What does it mean?
Senators are so guilty of wrongdoing they hesitate to answer present.
In plain terms
The senators are so corrupt they act like they are on trial.
What can you take from it?
Corruption undermines basic duties.

Where it applies

  • political scandals
  • legislative oversight
  • public office

Putting it to work

  • demanding accountability
  • voting out officials
  • ethics reform

Questions to consider

  • How do you measure public integrity?
  • When does absence signal guilt?

Another view

Not every absent senator is guilty.

More from Theodore Roosevelt

  1. We need the iron qualities that go with true manhood. We need the positive virtues of resolution, of courage, of indomitable will, of power to do without shrin…

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  2. When you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, 'Certainly I can!' Then get busy and find out how to do it.

    Permalink to quote #136
  3. To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.

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