Quotes About Ethics

Our obligation to the will of God is our obligation to the laws of practical reason.

Might does not make right, but right demands that those who hold to it should defend it with all their might.

When it's fair trade, it's blessed, and when it's unfair it's an injustice. That is the way of the world. Everyone wants something and they barter to get it.

For some stories, it's easy. The moral of 'The Three Bears,' for instance, is "Never break into someone else's house.' The moral of 'Snow White' is 'Never eat apples.' The moral of World War I is 'Never assassinate Archduke Ferdinand.

But there are times in this harum-scarum world when figuring out the right thing to do is quite simple, but doing the right thing is simply impossible....

How can someone so wonderful do something so terrible?

In a world too often governed by corruption and arrogance, it can be difficult to stay true to one's philosophical and literary principles.

Knowing that something is wrong and doing it anyway happens very often in life, and I doubt I will ever know why.

It doesn't take courage to kill someone,' Klaus said. 'It takes a severe lack of moral stamina.

Like People, animals will become frightened and likely do whatever you say if you whip them enough.

This is an absurd moral, for you and I both know that sometimes not only is it good to lie, it is necessary to lie.

It is very difficult to make one's way in this world without being wicked at one time or another, when the world's way is so wicked to being with.

Is it fair for the bears to come down to where humans live, looking for food? Is it fair for the Duke's soldiers to shoot at them? Is it fair for the bears to crush them with giant snowballs? Often, if you point out something that isn't fair, someone will reply, "Life isn't fair." What is to be done with such people?

Deciding on the right thing to do in a situation is a bit like deciding on the right thing to wear to a party. [...] The truth is that you can never be sure if you have decided on the right thing until the party is over, and by then it is too late to go back and change your mind, which is why the world is filled with people doing terrible things and wearing ugly clothing.

But even if they could go home it would be difficult for me to tell you what the moral of the story is. In some stories, it's easy. The moral of 'The Three Bears', for instance, is "Never break into someone else's house". The moral of 'Snow White' is "Never eat apples". The moral of World War One is "Never assassinate Archduke Ferdinand.

Are you saying that being a criminal is a matter of opinion?" I asked. Qwerty smiled, but it was sad around the edges. "No," he said. "It's a matter of handcuffs.

In some stories, it's easy. The moral of "The Three Bears," for instance, is "Never break into someone else's house." The moral of "Snow White" is "Never eat apples." The moral of World War One is "Never assassinate Archduke Ferdinand.

The moral of "The Three Bears," for instance, is "Never break into someone else's house." The moral of "Snow White" is "Never eat apples." The moral of World War One is "Never assassinate Archduke Ferdinand.

In every other place on Earth, nobility and integrity are vanishing quickly.

Was it really necessary? Was it absolutely necessary to steal that sugar bowl from Esme Squalor?

And in my experience, well-read people are less likely to be evil.

A wonderful laugh is no excuse for villainous behavior!

Showing up early is one of the signs of a noble person....

I will suddenly remember this thing I did, and think to myself, Was it really necessary? Was it absolutely necessary to steal that sugar bowl from Esmé Squalor?