Quotes About Morality

Despotic power is always accompanied by corruption of morality.

If one must do a wrong, it's best to do it pursuing power-otherwise, let's have virtue.

The good man is he who rules himself as he does his own property: his autonomous being is modelled on material power.

There is explosive power in virtue.

Absolute power demoralizes.

Passions are vices or virtues to their highest powers.

All human laws are, properly speaking, only declaratory; they may alter the mode and application, but have no power over the substance of original justice.

Law always chooses sides on the basis of enforcement power. Morality and legal niceties have little to do with it when the real question is: Who has the clout?

To be good, we must do good; and by doing good we take a sure means of being good, as the use and exercise of the muscles increase their power.

The philosophers Camus and Sartre raise the question whether or not a man can condemn himself.

No man deserves to be praised for his goodness, who has it not in his power to be wicked. Goodness without that power is generally nothing more than sloth, or an impotence of will.

Men have the power of thinking that they may avoid sin.

A just man is not one who does no ill, But he, who with the power, has not the will.

What will be left of the power of example if it is proved that capital punishment has another power, and a very real one, which degrades men to the point of shame, madness, and murder?

Those who really deserve praise are the people who, while human enough to enjoy power, nevertheless pay more attention to justice than they are compelled to do by their situation.

Don't be intimidated by power, wealth or station, character alone makes all the difference.

Power makes gods. Virtue makes martyrs.

good is too often allied with vulnerability and evil with power.

He invites the commission of a crime who does not forbid it, when it is in his power to do so.

But isn't it likely that everyone in this world...has killed someone or other on their way to the top?...All I wanted was a chance to be a man--and for that, one murder is enough.

If you have the power to resurrect the dead man, firstly, be sure that he is a good man!

Most people, 95% of people, are good people. Its the 5% who get seduced by power.

The true greatness of a nation lies in its character, not in its economic or military power.

Power has long been regarded as morally corrosive, and we often suspect the intentions of those who seek it.