Quotes About Morality

Whatever moral rules you have deliberately proposed to yourself. abide by them as they were laws, and as if you would be guilty of impiety by violating any of them. Don't regard what anyone says of you, for this, after all, is no concern of yours.

the good of man, and likewise his ill, lies in how he exercises his choice, while everything else is nothing to us

Follow your principles as though they were laws. Do not worry if others criticize or laugh at you, for their opinions are not your concern.

If you decide to do something, don't shrink from being seen doing it, even if the majority of people disapprove. If you're wrong to do it, then you should shrink from doing it altogether; but if you're right, then why worry how people will judge you?

Well, when do we act like sheep: when we act for the sake of the belly, or of our sex-organs, or at random, or in a filthy fashion, or without due consideration, to what level have we degenerated? To the level of sheep.

You're not yet Socrates, but you can still live as if you want to be him.

As long as you honour material things, direct your anger at yourself rather than the thief or adulterer.

As the sun does not wait for prayers and incantations to be induced to rise, but immediately shines and is saluted by all: so do you also not wait for clappings of hands, and shouts and praise to be induced to do good, but be a doer of good voluntarily, and you will be beloved as much as the sun.

For determining the rational and the irrational, we employ not only our estimates of the value of external things, but also the criterion of that which is in keeping with one's own character. (Book I.2, 17p)

You must be one man, either good or bad. You must cultivate either your own ruling faculty or externals, and apply yourself either to things within or without you; that is, be either a philosopher, or one of the vulgar.

The Good stands before us like an archer's target. Evil is not a thing in itself but a missing of the mark, an arrow gone astray.

35. When you do anything from a clear judgment that it ought to be done, never shun the being seen to do it, even though the world should make a wrong supposition about it; for, if you don't act right, shun the action itself; but, if you do, why are you afraid of those who censure you wrongly?

And every animal is better or worse from his own merit (virtue) or his own badness. Is there then no virtue in man only? and must we look to the hair, and our clothes and to our ancestors?

Where does the good lie? 'In the will.' And evil? 'Also in the will.' And things neither good nor bad – '… lie in whatever is external to the will.

you should not wait for clapping of hands and shouts and praise to do your duty; but do good of your own accord.

33] Consider at what price you sell your integrity; but please, for God's sake, don't sell it cheap.

I see good people dying of cold and hunger.' Well, don't you see wicked people dying of luxury, pride and excess?

So – a true philosopher is under no obligation to respect vulgar opinion as to what is religious or irreligious, what is just or unjust. What dishonour he brings on philosophers in general if he did! That's not what you learned here.

In time, you will grow to be confident that there is not a single impression that you will not have the moral means to tolerate.

Well, then, biting, kicking, wanton imprisonment and beheading – is that what our nature entails? No; rather, acts of kindness, cooperation and good will. And so, whether you like it or not, a person fares poorly whenever he acts like an insensitive brute.

If you decide to do something, don't shrink from being seen doing it, even if the majority of people disapprove. If you're wrong to do it, then you should shrink from doing it altogether; but if you're right, then why worry how people will judge you?

Whenever externals are more important to you than your own integrity, then be prepared to serve them the remainder of your life.

What, then, is your own? The way you live your life.

only judge your own thoughts, desires, and actions as good or evil.