Quotes About Ethics

A good man regards the root; he fixes the root, and ail else flows out of it. The root is filial piety; the fruit brotherly love.

A man's indebtedness is not virtue; his repayment is. Virtue begins when he dedicates himself actively to the job of gratitude.

The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.

If it seems more horrible to kill a man in his own house, then in a field,...it ought surely to be deemed more atrocious to destroy a fetus in the womb before it has come to light.

The wolf never kills for fun, which is probably one of the main differences distinguishing him from man.

The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic.

The noblest of all studies is the study of what man is and of what life he should live.

The downfall of every civilization comes, not from the moral corruption of the common man, but rather from the moral complacency of common men in high places.

We want men here, not just players. Players are a dime a dozen

I killed one man to save 100,000.

The best of men choose one thing in preference to all else, immortal glory in preference to mortal good; whereas the masses simply glut themselves like cattle.

"The best of men are just men at best.

Well, killing a man isn't clean and quick and simple. It's bloody and awful. And maybe if enough people come to realize that shooting somebody isn't just fun and games, maybe we'll get somewhere.

The superior man... does not set his mind either for or against anything, he will pursue whatever is right. The superior man thinks of virtue, the common man of comfort.

A man can only be judged by his actions, and not by his good intentions or his beliefs.

It is a great thing to have a big brain, a fertile imagination, grand ideals, but the man with these, bereft of a good backbone, is sure to serve no useful end.

Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed.

Only man has law. Law must be built, do you understand me? You must build the law.

In all your relations to men be great, just, generous, courteous, and kindly. The great are never otherwise.

Bad men cannot make good citizens. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience are incompatible with freedom.

The first step to be taken by everyone who wishes to act morally is to decide not to act according to the general customs and doings of his fellow-men.

He who shall hurt the little wren Shall never be beloved by men.

No man is a devil in his own mind.

The common sense of mankind demands that law shall not stop with the punishment of petty crimes by little people. It must also reach men who possess themselves of great power.