Quotes about Moral Principles

The worst crimes are not committed by evil degenerates, but by decent and intelligent people taking 'pragmatic' decisions.

In the practice of our politics we do not believe that the end always justifies the means.

A gentleman considers what is right; The vulgar consider what will pay.

I for my part have never yet seen one who really cared for Goodness, nor one who really abhorred wickedness. One who really cared for Goodness would never let any other consideration come first. One who abhorred wickedness would be so constantly doing Good that wickedness would never have a chance to get at him.

Our society, our culture, and our humanity depend on never crossing certain lines

There may be a wrong way to do the right thing, but never a right way to do a wrong thing.

The Republican Party is an empty vessel unless we imbue it with values.

There are no moral victories.

I loved 'Casablanca.' You know, right vs. wrong. I think I like a movie where there is a victory, right over wrong, but there's always some price to be paid.

Consider what you think justice requires, and decide accordingly. But never give your reasons; for your judgment will probably be right, but your reasons will certainly be wrong.

Just because it is legal to do, it does not make it an ethical, honorable, moral or professional choice.

Sometimes I hate having a conscience, and a stupidly thorough sense of honor.

What's stronger-the need to uphold the law, or the motive to turn one's back on it?

Theo, I am a man with faults and errors and passions, but I don't think I ever tried to deprive anyone of his bread or his friends. I have sometimes fought people with words, but attempting a man's life because of a difference of opinion is not the work of an honest man - at least, these are not honest weapons.

Never create by law what can be accomplished by morality.

Let no man turn aside, ever so slightly, from the broad path of honour, on the plausible pretence that he is justified by the goodness of his end. All good ends can be worked out by good means.

Integrity is the core of our character.

After the turbulence of death, moral principles and even religious proofs are called into question.

Democracy requires us to recognize others' rights even when we fundamentally disagree with them. It requires a civility in which I respect a person's ultimate worth and seek to persuade but not to coerce. For this reason modern democracy grew out of Christian soil. We must exercise the skill of ethical surgeons in deciding which moral principles apply to society at large and how best to apply them.

Even while an atheist, he held some things sacred.

He's garbage, he cares about nothing but the truth.

Porque, en efecto, la injusticia produce sediciones, ¡oh, Trasímaco!, y odios y luchas de unos contra otros, mientras que la justicia trae concordia y amistad; ¿no es así?

because he is just; moreover he is hated by his friends and acquaintance for refusing to serve them in unlawful ways.

We may disagree with the morality of a law, but we cannot deny the moral concern of a law.