Quotes About Ethics

A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user….

I knew that a President can appeal to the best in our people or the worst; he can call for action or live with inaction.

The unnecessary felling of a tree, perhaps the growth of centuries, seems to me a crime little short of murder, [and] it pains me to an unspeakable degree." J

When I have found men mere politicians, bending to the popular breeze and changing with it, for the self-popularity, I have ever shunned them, believing that they were unworthy of my confidence—but still treat them with hospitality and politeness.

Nothing makes a man come to grips more directly with his conscience than the Presidency….The burden of his responsibility literally opens up his soul. No longer can he accept matters as given; no longer can he write off hopes and needs as impossible. —LYNDON B. JOHNSON

In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds

When I asked Robert Spitzer about the possibility that he'd inadvertently created a world in which ordinary behaviours were being labelled mental disorders, he fell silent. I waited for him to answer. But the silence lasted three minutes. Finally he said, 'I don't know.

Google has the informal corporate motto of "don't be evil", but they make money when anything happens online, even the bad stuff.' In

we have to think about what level of mercilessness we feel comfortable with.

If I had a spouse and two kids to support I certainly would not be telling 'jokes' like he was doing at a conference.

So you faked it to give Zimbardo a better study?" I asked. "It was completely deliberate on my part," he replied. "I planned it. I mapped it out. I carried it through. It was all done for a purpose. I thought I was doing something good at the time.

we're raised to believe that deep down everyone has a conscience." At

But at the core of psychopathy is a lack of moral restraint.

He said hurting people was better than sex.

when I became a vegetarian. I missed the steak, although not as much as I'd anticipated, but I could no longer ignore the slaughterhouse. I

Of course, lots of people dehumanise others, find ways to irradiate empathy and remorse from their day jobs so they can preform their jobs better.

Oh, Ronson's all right," Alex told him. "I'm sure he's planning some form of sophisticated hit piece, but I don't care. It's always artfully done so it goes back and forth, you know." "Why is he wearing a snow jacket in 90-degree heat?" Stone muttered to Alex.

Lacking in conscience and empathy, they take what they want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations without guilt or remorse.

The people we were destroying were no longer just people like Jonah: public figures who had committed actual transgressions. They were private individuals who really hadn't done anything much wrong. Ordinary humans were being forced to learn damage control, like corporations that had committed PR disasters. It was very stressful.

When they sank their teeth into cows, goats, pigs, and sheep, wolves committed sins unimaginable to them.

Tip to all British tabloids: Do Not Hack Amy Winehouse's Phone. I repeat: Do Not Hack Amy Winehouse's Phone.

Sure, because it's a fairy tale. They're always so tediously moral. Nobody gets away with anything fun and all the interesting people are bad guys.

Politics can make people do terrible things

We've got to squash this dewy-eyed belief that people can be motivated by anything other than money.