Quotes About Goodness

When we behave poorly, or compromise our belief in our own goodness, regret can build and then persist.

All deep structure regrets reveal a need and yield a lesson. With moral regrets, the need is goodness. The lesson, which we've heard in religious texts, philosophy tracts, and parental admonitions, is this: when in doubt, do the right thing.

most people are good," says Jim. "But not when they're afraid.

I may be capable of evil, son, but that doesn't mean I am.

I'm not a believer in predetermined fates, being rewarded for one's efforts. I'm not a believer in karma. The reason why I try to be a good person is because I think it's the right thing to do. If I commit fewer bad acts there will be fewer bad acts, maybe other people will join in committing fewer bad acts, and in time there will be fewer and fewer of them.

It's difficult in the abstract to appreciate that those with morally objectionable viewpoints can still be good people.

I think all of us have a hero and a villain in us.

I did a play once where a reviewer said, 'Martin Freeman's too nice to play a bad guy.' And I thought: 'Well, bad guys aren't always bad guys, you know?' When I see someone play the obvious villain, I know it's false.

It was important to me that my heroes not be all good and my villains not be all bad.

It is the spread of the good things that vindicates the whole reason we live our lives in networks. If I was always violent to you or gave you germs, you would cut the ties to me and the network would disintegrate. In a deep and fundamental way, networks are connected to goodness, and goodness is required for networks to emerge and spread.

Knowing that we were doing good work and the stories were good. They were original and charming. They weren't particularly violent or sexy or any of that. They were just unique and that had a good feel to it.

I think virtually everyone wants to do good and be good and be decent to each other and pursue something that is valuable to them and meaningful.

Even virtue is fairer when it appears in a beautiful person.

Virtue is harmony.

Virtue cannot separate itself from reality without becoming a principle of evil.

Friendship with a man is friendship with his virtue.

Know then this truth, enough for man to know virtue alone is happiness below.

Virtue is akin to holiness, an attribute of godliness.

Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful.

Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.

I want people to come away from my book with questions. Questions about virtue and goodness. Not answers.

Virtue is the truest nobility.

Virtue itself scapes not calumnious strokes.

Superior virtue must be the fruit of superior intelligence.