Quotes About Ethics

It is ironical that for all the value we give to the rational, life is primarily governed by the irrational. Love is not rational. Sorrow is not rational. Hatred, ambition, rage and greed are irrational. Even ethics, morals and aesthetics are not rational. They depend on values and standards which are ultimately subjective.

The Ramayana has never been a tale of Ram's life. It is a tale of how Ram lived for others. By retelling his tale, storytellers hope to inspire themselves and others to live as Ram did.

Dharma thus has nothing to with rules or obligations. It has to do with intent and caring for the other, be it your kingdom or your family.

Dharma is more about empathy than ethics, about intent rather than outcome.

Yayati exploits the rule for his own benefit whereas Dashratha enforces the rule so that royal integrity is never questioned. The rule (obey the father) evokes dharma in Dashratha's case, but not so in Yayati's.

there can be no dharma without the spirit of generosity. Without genuine love, laws and rules are worthless.

Dharma is all about helping the helpless.

Who decides what justice is? How does one end this unending spiral of revenge where everyone believes they are right and their opponents are wrong?

Arjuna, there is nothing in the three worlds that I need to do or gain. Yet I work, for if I don't, others won't, and I will be the cause of confusion and destruction of all that has been created.—Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3, verses 22 to 24 (paraphrased).

Stay true to the idea of dharma. Be the best you can be, in the worst of circumstances, even when no one is watching

You renounced your right to think independently when you let someone else play your game for you. His word is your word. And you must be committed to keeping it. For to keep one's word is dharma. To hate is not dharma.

In nature, the strong overpower the weak in order to improve their chances of survival. But in culture, the strong must protect the weak. That is dharma.

Neither Sita nor Ram let the forest erode their values. Wherever they go, they hold on to the principles of dharma. They may have left Ayodhya, but Ayodhya never leaves them.

When we stop loving, we embrace adharma.

It is ironical that for all the value we give to the rational, life is primarily governed by the irrational. Love is not rational. Sorrow is not rational. Hatred, ambition, rage and greed are irrational. Even ethics, morals and aesthetics are not rational. They depend on values and standards which are ultimately subjective. What is right, sacred and beautiful to one group of people need not be right, sacred and beautiful to another group of people.

but where does this nobility come from? Generosity or fear? Wisdom or ignorance?

What may seem like a good deed from one point of view may not be seen as one from another point of view. Thus

Dharma is not about winning. It is about empathy and growth. Yudhishtira knows the pain of losing a child. He can empathize with his enemy rather than gloat on their defeat. In empathy, there is wisdom.

Dharma is more about empathy than ethics, about intent rather than outcome. I

To keep one's word is the fundamental principle of dharma,' said

It is easy to decide between right and wrong but it is difficult to decide between what is right and what is more right

sometimes an action we think is right turns out to be wrong.

According to the Jatakas, the Buddha was born as a frog in one of his previous lives. He saw a snake being attacked by a school of fish. The snake asked, 'Is this appropriate?' to which the frog replied, 'You eat the fish when they enter your territory. The fish attack you when you enter theirs. Considering the context,

There are two kinds of victory in this world,' said the storyteller-sage, 'Vijaya and Jaya. Vijaya is material victory, where there is a loser. Jaya is spiritual victory, where there are no losers. In Kuru-kshetra there was Vijaya but not Jaya. But when Yudhishtira overcame his rage and forgave the Kauravas unconditionally, there was Jaya. That