“Responsibility is a must; if you fail to be responsible, you are still responsible for your failure.”

Last update Aug. 11, 2022. History

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Philippe Starck photo

“You must have your own responsibility, your own consciousness.”

Philippe Starck (1949) French architect and industrial designer

Starck (2007) "Starck speaks: Politics, Pleasure and Play" in: The New Architectural Pragmatism William S. Saunders ed. p. 36

Jiddu Krishnamurti photo

“You are aware of your responses to that passer-by, you are aware that you are judging, condemning or justifying; you are observing. You do not say, "I must not judge, I must not justify". In being aware of your responses, there is no decision at all.”

Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986) Indian spiritual philosopher

5th Public Talk Saanen (26th July 1970); also in "Fear and Pleasure", The Collected Works, Vol. X
1970s
Context: Do you decide to observe? Or do you merely observe? Do you decide and say, "I am going to observe and learn"? For then there is the question: "Who is deciding?" Is it will that says, "I must"? And when it fails, it chastises itself further and says, "I must, must, must"; in that there is conflict; therefore the state of mind that has decided to observe is not observation at all. You are walking down the road, somebody passes you by, you observe and you may say to yourself, "How ugly he is; how he smells; I wish he would not do this or that". You are aware of your responses to that passer-by, you are aware that you are judging, condemning or justifying; you are observing. You do not say, "I must not judge, I must not justify". In being aware of your responses, there is no decision at all. You see somebody who insulted you yesterday. Immediately all your hackles are up, you become nervous or anxious, you begin to dislike; be aware of your dislike, be aware of all that, do not "decide" to be aware. Observe, and in that observation there is neither the "observer" nor the "observed" — there is only observation taking place. The "observer" exists only when you accumulate in the observation; when you say, "He is my friend because he has flattered me", or, "He is not my friend, because he has said something ugly about me, or something true which I do not like." That is accumulation through observation and that accumulation is the observer. When you observe without accumulation, then there is no judgement.

Robert Greene photo
Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Jon Stewart photo

“You have a responsibility to the public discourse, and you fail miserably.”

Jon Stewart (1962) American political satirist, writer, television host, actor, media critic and stand-up comedian

Crossfire Appearance (2004)
Context: Stewart: You have a responsibility to the public discourse, and you fail miserably.
Carlson: You need to get a job at a journalism school, I think.
Stewart: You need to go to one. [... ]
Carlson: Wait. I thought you were going to be funny. Come on. Be funny.
Stewart: No. No. I'm not going to be your monkey.

Hyman George Rickover photo

“Responsibility is a unique concept… You may share it with others, but your portion is not diminished. You may delegate it, but it is still with you… If responsibility is rightfully yours, no evasion, or ignorance or passing the blame can shift the burden to someone else.”

Hyman George Rickover (1900–1986) United States admiral

The Rickover Effect (1992)
Context: Responsibility is a unique concept... You may share it with others, but your portion is not diminished. You may delegate it, but it is still with you... If responsibility is rightfully yours, no evasion, or ignorance or passing the blame can shift the burden to someone else. Unless you can point your finger at the man who is responsible when something goes wrong, then you have never had anyone really responsible.

Martin Firrell photo
Mao Zedong photo

“The chaos caused was on a grand scale and I take responsibility. Comrades, you must all analyse your own responsibility. If you have to ***, ***! If you have to fart, fart! You will feel much better for it.”

Mao Zedong (1893–1976) Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

Speech At The Lushan Conference http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-8/mswv8_34.htm (23 July 1959)

Garry Kasparov photo

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