Quotes About Ethics

people have a greater tolerance for evil than for violence. If crooked gambling, thieving, and robbing are covered over, folks will tolerate it longer than outright violence, even when the violence may be cleansing.

Unless one is at heart a rascal, I think he becomes a little better in many ways by assuming leadership.

My old Greek, who was my teacher when I was a boy in my own country," I said, "taught me this. It was a Somali saying, I believe: 'Lie to a liar, for lies are his coin; steal from a thief, for that is easy; lay a trap for the trickster and catch him at the first attempt, but beware of an honest man.

There could be no tolerating of evil. One stamped it out or the evil grew worse.

Abbott had also impressed on Holmes, possibly by his conversation but certainly by his example, the belief that nobility of character consists in doing one's job with indifference to ends

Holmes writes, "…I also would fight for some things—but instead of saying that they ought to be I merely say they are part of the kind of world that I like—or should like.

He gave it all to charity," said my father. "Diabetes research, I can understand that. But cancer research? He didn't even have cancer!

If I didn't care about doing right and didn't feel uncomfortable doing wrong, I should get on capitally.

Persuasive influences are better than any amount of moralizing.

I almost wish I hadn't any conscience, it's so inconvenient. If I didn't care about doing the right and didn't feel uncomfortable when doing wrong, I should get on capitally.

It is necessary to do right; it is not necessary to be happy.

The sincere wish to be good is half the battle.

Better destroy the body than the soul.' ~Rosamond

Virtue was its own reward.

I read somewhere that every inch of rope used in the British Navy has a strand of red in it, so that wherever a bit of it is found it is known. That is the text of my little sermon to you. Virtue, which means honour, honesty, courage, and all that makes character, is the red thread that marks a good man wherever he is.

E' dalle piccolezze che si vede il carattere delle persone.

When people do one mean thing they are very likely to do another

Better lose your life than your soul, and one such passion leads to worse sins

Money couldn't keep shame and sorrow out of rich people's houses; another that, though she was poor, she was a great deal happier, with her youth, health, and good spirits, than a certain fretful, feeble old lady who couldn't enjoy her comforts; a third that, disagreeable as it was to help get dinner, it was harder still have to go begging for it; and the fourth, that even carnelian rings were not so valuable as good behavior.

It would trouble me sadly to make him unhappy, for I couldn't fall in love with the dear old fellow merely out of gratitude, could I?

I never yield to injustice if I can help it, ...

La vanidad echa a perder las mejores cualidades. El talento y la bondad nunca pasan inadvertidos y, aunque así fuera, la conciencia de tenerlos y hacer buen uso de ellos debería bastar. Las virtudes quedan ensalzadas por la molestia.

For the sincere wish to be good is half the battle.

But, Sir, I thought every story should have some sort of a moral, so I took care to have a few of my sinners repent.