Quotes About Morality

I had formerly been a great lover of fish, and, when this came hot out of the frying-pan, it smelt admirably well. I balanc'd some time between principle and inclination, till I recollected that, when the fish were opened, I saw smaller fish taken out of their stomachs; then thought I, "If you eat one another, I don't see why we mayn't eat you.

though I pleaded the usefulness of the work, mine convinced me that nothing was useful which was not honest.

It is hard for an empty sack to stand upright.

The strictest law sometimes becomes the severest injustice.

Franklin's Note.—Nothing so likely to make a man's fortune as virtue.

vicious actions are not hurtful because they are forbidden, but forbidden because they are hurtful,

Seek virtue, and of that possess, To providence resign the rest.

grew convinc'd that truth, sincerity and integrity in dealings between man and man were of the utmost importance to the felicity of life; and I form'd written resolutions, which still remain in my journal book, to practice them ever while I lived.

A man compounded of Law and Gospel, is able to cheat a whole country with his Religion, and then destroy them under Colour of Law.

vicious actions are not hurtful because they are forbidden, but forbidden because they are hurtful, the nature of man alone considered; that it was, therefore, every one's interest to be virtuous who wished to be happy even in this world;

no qualities were so likely to make a poor man's fortune as those of probity and integrity.

pleaded the usefulness of the work, mine convinced me that nothing was useful which was not honest.

Would you live with ease, do what you ought, not what you please.

Rarely use [sex] but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.

Do not do that which you would not have known.

You may be more happy than princes if you will be more virtuous.

Thou shalt not receive any gift; for a gift bindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous." (Exod. xxiii. 8.)

Conduct is more convincing than language,

the prophets repeatedly declare "that the son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, but every one be answerable for his own sins.

I have always set a greater Value on the Character of a Doer of Good, than on any other kind of Reputation

Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.

To be proud of virtue is to poison oneself with the antidote.

I can't imagine any fairminded future person feeling there was an important moral difference between the Soviet gulag and the American one.

History has shown us time and again that what is right is not what is popular.