Quotes About Ethics

Congratulations. You have met your conscience. In my experience, the world is divided between those who have one and those who don't. And the ones with one are divided into those who will act on their conscience and those who won't. Those who will are, I'm afraid, the smallest category. They will *jeito*. It's Brazilian Portuguese. It means to find a way to get something done, no matter what the obstacles.

But it's tempting, isn't it, to give somebody like Olympia or Fenleigh a taste of their own medicine? To get even?' I agree it's tempting. *Really* tempting. But it doesn't solve anything. It just perpetuates the problem by making us as bad as them. And we don't need any more of them, do we?

Good writers borrow, great writers steal. —T. S. Eliot (but possibly stolen from Oscar Wilde)

It is in order not to become victim of an assassin that we consent to die if we become assassins.

I will simply ask: What is philosophy? What do the writings of the best known philosophers contain? What are the lessons of these friends of wisdom? To listen to them, would one not take them for a troupe of charlatans crying out in a public square, each from his own corner: Come to me. I'm the only one who is not wrong?

Mancando le qualità morali di misura precisa, se anche ci fosse l'accordo sul segno, come ci potrebbe essere sulla valutazione?

Do what is good for you with as little harm as possible to others

Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of which things in life are necessary, which are less necessary, and which are completely unnecessary to know. Among the most necessary knowledge is the knowledge of how to live well, that is, how to produce the least possible evil and the greatest goodness in one's life. At present, people study useless sciences, but forget to study this, the most important knowledge.

What conclusion is to be drawn from this paradox so worthy of being born in our time; and what will become of virtue when one has to get rich at all cost? The ancient political thinkers forever spoke of morals and of virtue; ours speak only of commerce and money.

It is too difficult to think nobly when one only thinks to get a living.

He began to understand that just because some people thought certain behavior was wrong, that didn't make it so. A person could resist popular belief and stand up for personal principles, and though there might be consequences, not everything would necessarily be lost. In fact, something important might be gained, if only within oneself.

They are lazy, worthless men who contribute nothing, unless they're shamed into it, and they have little shame.

He began to understand that just because some people thought certain behavior was wrong, that didn't make it so. A person could resist popular belief and stand up for personal principles, and though there might be consequences, not everything would be necessarily lost. In fact, something important might be gained, if only within oneself.

When people treat others badly, they have to rationalize it so they can go on living with themselves. We give ourselves excuses.

Your wolf doesn't need to hate what he kills. It would be easier if we could kill without compunction, like your wolf does, but then, we wouldn't be human.

There are neither good or bad colonialist: there are colonialists.

Ä°nsan kendi kendine sormal?, diye düÅŸündü Mösyö Darbédat, sorumluluk nerede baÅŸlar ya da daha çok nerede biter?

Cómo se puede mentir poniendo a la razón de parte de uno?

Quelques crimes toujours précèdent les grands crimes. Quiconque a pu franchir les bornes légitimes Peut violer enfin les droits les plus sacrés; Ainsi que la vertu, le crime a ses degrés, Et jamais on n'a vu la timide innocence Passer subitement à l'extrême licence.

Entre la raison marchande et le droit à l'alimentation, l'antinomie est absolue. Les spéculateurs jouent avec la vie de millions d'êtres humains. Abolir totalement et immédiatement la spéculation sur les denrées alimentaires constitue une exigence de la raison. (p. 329)

Pleasure involves respect, and respect starts with words.

I understand where you're coming from. I know it isn't just a question of revenge. It's the feeling there are some things you can't let pass. If you did, you wouldn't be able to look at yourself in the mirror afterwards.

Right is right, even if you're alone.

to change something you do not understand is the true nature of evil.