Quotes About Ethics

I dare say not, because you have nothing particular to say. But the principle is the same. Lawyers and doctors and parsons talk of privileged communications. Why should not a young lady have her privileged communications?

It is easy for most of us to keep our hands from picking and stealing when picking and stealing plainly lead to prison diet and prison garments. But when silks and satins come of it, and with the silks and satins general respect, the net result of honesty does not seem to be so secure.

Doan't thou marry for munny, but goa where munny is." Mrs. Greystock would have repudiated the idea of mercenary marriages in any ordinary conversation, and would have been severe on any gentleman who was false to a young lady. But it is so hard to bring one's general principles to bear on one's own conduct or in one's own family; — and then the Greystocks were so peculiar a people!

It is no doubt very wrong to long after a naughty thing. But nevertheless, we all do so. One may say that hankering after naughty things is the very essence of the evil into which we have been precipitated by Adam's fall. When we confess that we are all sinners, we confess that we all long after naughty things

I would," continued the angry man. "There are times in which one is driven to regret that there has come an end to duelling, and there is left to one no immediate means of resenting an injury.

There's nothing of honesty left in politics," said Mr. Bonteen, declaring that he was sick of the life.

it makes me feel that an honest man should not place himself where he may have to deal with such persons." "According to that the honest men are to desert their country in order that the dishonest men may have everything their own way.

After all," said he, "money is a fine thing." "Very fine, when it is well come by," she answered; "that is, without detriment to the heart or soul.

One seems inclined to think sometimes that any fool might do an honest business.  But fraud requires a man to be alive and wide awake at every turn!

I dare say, and as it doesn't displease me all is well. You, however, have quite sense enough to understand, that in this house more is thought of—of—of— he would have said blood, but that he did not wish to hurt her,—more is thought of personal good conduct than of rings and jewels.

At any rate, it is as easy to do that as to tell of the man who is one hour good and the next bad, who aspires greatly but fails in practice, who sees the higher but too often follows the lower course.

I have known gentlemen who have felt that in becoming members of Parliament they had achieved an object for themselves instead of thinking that they had put themselves in the way of achieving something for others. A member of Parliament should feel himself to be the servant of his country, — and like every other servant, he should serve. If this be distasteful to a man he need not go into Parliament

A clergyman, — and such a clergyman too!" "I don't see that that has anything to do with it." And as he now spoke, John did take his eyes off his book. "Why should not a clergyman turn thief as well as anybody else? You girls always seem to forget that clergymen are only men after all.

You will not share with your friend, as a friend should?" "No, Lady Laura. That cannot be done." "I do not see why it cannot. Then you might be independent." "Then I should indeed be dependent." "You are too proud to owe me anything.

And yet these leaders of the fashion know, Ã¢â'¬â€ at any rate they believe, Ã¢â'¬â€ that he is what he is because he has been a swindler greater than other swindlers.

Men reconcile themselves to swindling. Though they themselves mean to be honest, dishonesty of itself is no longer odious to them.

All is fair in love and war; and if this is not love, it was the usual thing that stands as a counterpart for it.

A gentleman over fifty, popular in London, with a seat in Parliament, fond of good dinners, and possessed of everything which the world has to give, could hardly have wished to run away with his neighbour's wife

he understood well that code of by-laws which was presumed to constitute the character of a gentleman in his circle.

She was dark, thin, healthy, good-looking, clever, ambitious, rich, unsatisfied, perhaps unscrupulous — but not without a conscience.

Mere factual innocence is no reason not to carry out a death sentence properly reached.

the triad of human perfection": knowledge, judgment, and character.

Inspiration is incompatible with selfish desire. Whoever wants something for himself sets truth aside. Such aims can only degrade work.

personally I don't trust literature that soothes people's consciences.