Quotes About Ethics

Stranger, pause and ask thyself the question, Canst thou do likewise? If not, with a blush retire.

Empathy makes you more aware of other people's suffering, but it's not clear it actually motivates you to take moral action or prevents you from taking immoral action.

Justice is charity in accordance with wisdom.

Justice is never anything in itself, but in the dealings of men with one another in any place whatever and at any time. It is a kind of compact not to harm or be harmed.

Even wisdom has to yield to self-interest.

Honor's a thing too subtle for wisdom; if honor lie in eating, he's right honorable.

Virtue makes us aim at the right end, and practical wisdom makes us take the right means.

It still remains true that no justification of virtue will enable a man to be virtuous.

The Bible says, 'The truth shall make you free.' But let's not forget it was Spiro Agnew who said that a good lie will keep you out of jail in the first place.

It isn't right to judge strength as better than good wisdom.

Indeed in general I hold that there is nothing truer than happiness, and nothing happier and sweeter than truth.

Guilt at least has a purpose; it tells us we've violated some ethical code. Ditto for remorse. Those feelings are educational; they manufacture wisdom. But regret-regret is useless.

Virtue is persecuted by the wicked more than it is loved by the good.

Let him leave the imperial court, who wishes to be virtuous. Virtue and absolute power cannot coexist.

Let us be well persuaded that everyone of us possesses happiness in proportion to his virtue and wisdom, and according as he acts in obedience to their suggestion.

Just as stinginess is blameworthy, so is facility in paying more for things than they are worth...

The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good. Ann Landers It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get back up.

A good man prefers to suffer rather than overcome injustice with evil.

The central moral issue of science is that we do not have a science of peace and hardly know where to begin in building one.

No vicarious charity can substitute for justice which is due as an obligation and is wrongfully denied.

I find the fact that billionaires are quoted as if the fact that they are billionaires gives them some kind of wisdom is outrageous.

What would you do if you knew for sure that no one would ever find out?

I admire the courage and wisdom of Socrates in everything he did, said--and did not say.

I only take a half share in the civil war; I am willing to die, I am not willing to kill.