Quotes About Ethics

In 1955, amid the great fanfare that accompanied the initial release of the [polio] vaccine, Dr. Jonas Salk was asked who owned the patent. He replied, "Well, the people, I would say. Could you patent the sun?

You don't like the way the study of an expensive drug for blood pressure is going? A nonissue - just stop the study before the results reach statistical significance.

Those occupying leadership roles who completely lack integrity are what we call 'Blind shepherds'. They are not really 'bad' leaders, because they are not leaders at all: they are misleaders.

Integrity is the noblest possession. -Latin Proverb.

integrity means both personal wholeness and adherence to values outside yourself - especially goodness and truth

There is a useful distinction between good leaders and leaders of good

they will have the right to expect from you the highest standards of character, professional competence and integrity.

Virtue is not always amiable.

The law no passion can disturb. 'Tis void of desire and fear, lust and anger. 'Tis mens sine affectu, written reason, retaining some measure of the divine perfection. It does not enjoin that which pleases a weak, frail man, but, without any regard to persons, commands that which is good and punishes evil in all, whether rich or poor, high or low.

My fixed principle never to be the tool of any man, nor the partisan of any nation, would forever exclude me from the smiles and favors or courts.

Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases.

Metaphysicians and politicians may dispute forever, but they will never find any other moral principle or foundation of rule or obedience, than the consent of governors and governed.

Great is the guilt of unnecessary war.

You signed a contract. But much more important than that, you gave your word. And I intend to hold you to that word within the bounds of the law. If necessary, without the bounds of the law.

A warrior does not kill because it is his wish to, but because he must. And because he has been made strong enough to do it. Killing is not easy. It shouldn't be. If it becomes easy for you... you become a killer.

No way it's up to me to decide which life is "better." So if it isn't up to me...I don't get it, ma. How can a life be saved if a life is lost?

True friends influence the moral conduct of their friends.

Friends without character and the spirit of friendship demonstrate friendliness without friendship and friendship without the ability to be friends; they often manipulate others to achieve their own goals and dreams.

The wise man regulates his conduct by the theories both of religion and science. But he regards these theories not as statements of ultimate fact but as art-forms.

There can be no truce between science and religion.

These public executions are a positive disgrace.

Keeping the notion of dignity front and center creates a workplace where people want to be.

People who put principles before people are people who hate people. They don't much care about how well it works, just about how right it is … they may even like it better if it inflicts enough pain.

Don't underrate ordinary human decency," Josh said quietly. "There's more of heaven in a guy who hands a cold soda to a hot, tired panhandler than there is in fifty moral philosophers.