Quotes About Ethics

There are only three things worth while in this world—justice, beauty and truth; and perhaps none of them can be defined.

virtue is not news, and virtuous men, like happy nations, have no history.

A right is not a gift of God or nature but a privilege which it is good for the group that the individual should have.

How can we understand man if we do not understand religion?

Every man is free to do that which he wills, provided he infringes not the equal freedom of any other man.

Aristotle argued for slavery as natural and inevitable

Morality, said Jesus, is kindness to the weak; morality, said Nietzsche, is the bravery of the strong; morality, says Plato, is the effective harmony of the whole. Probably all three doctrines must be combined to find a perfect ethics; but can we doubt which of the elements is fundamental? X. Criticism

Every science begins as philosophy and ends as art; it arises in hypothesis and flows into achievement. Philosophy is a hypothetical interpretation of the unknown (as in metaphysics), or of the inexactly known (as in ethics or political philosophy); it is the front trench in the siege of truth.

He who steals from a citizen," said Cato, "ends his days in fetters and chains; but he who steals from the community ends them in purple and gold."17

When Zeno, who did not believe in slavery, was beating his slave for some offense, the slave pleaded, in mitigation, that by his master's philosophy he had been destined from all eternity to commit this fault; to which Zeno replied, with the calm of a sage, that on the same philosophy he, Zeno, had been destined to beat him for it.

the only difference in motive between the rich man and ourselves is seldom a difference in scruples, but is usually a difference in opportunity and skill.

justice is the interest of the stronger

pugnacity, greed, brutality, and sexual readiness were advantages in the struggle for existence. Probably every vice was once a virtue

Alan sensed Bull as liability, pure liability, triple liability. Alan was now having an affair with a man who had a cunt in the back of his leg. Worse still, the man was his patient. At the very least he would be struck off…

When we behave badly, it is usually because we were put in an unhappy situation. Circumstance has conspired against us. Really, I had no choice. When others do wrong, it is because of their character flaws.

But we don't live in a perfect world. We live in a world where gossip passes for news, and sensationalism passes for journalism. - Christina McCall

I still believe in good and bad, in black and white, in right and wrong. I believe the guilty should be punished. I believe the law enforcement community has an obligation to make the world a better place, a safer placce. And I believe that with dedication and hard work, everyone can make a difference. Even lawyers. - Jack Bullock

Practicing law is not about winning. It's about justice. Simple, naked justice. It's about finding the truth. - Judge Sarah L. Hart

The best way to play poker is to act like Jesus but play like the devil.

Lawyers never forget. - Christine McCall

Prisons are built with stones of Law, Brothels with bricks of Religion

And is he honest who resists his genius or conscience only for the sake of present ease or gratification

Active evil is better than passive good

Kill not the moth nor butterfly, For the last judgment draweth nigh.