Quotes About Ethics

simply and of your own free will, choose the higher and hold fast to that

Try how the life of the good man suits thee, the life of him who is satisfied with his portion out of the whole, and satisfied with his own just acts and benevolent disposition.

But your conversion should always rest on a conviction that it's right, or benefits others—nothing else. Not because it's more appealing or more popular.

Not as though thou hadst thousands of years to live. Death hangs over thee: whilst yet thou livest, whilst thou mayest, be good.

that to expect a bad person not to harm others is like expecting fig trees not to secrete juice, babies not to cry, horses not to neigh—the inevitable not to happen. What else could they do—with that sort of character? If you're still angry, then get to work on that. 17.

How hast thou behaved hitherto to the gods, thy parents, brethren, children, teachers, to those who looked after thy infancy, to thy friends, kinsfolk, to thy slaves? Consider if thou hast hitherto behaved to all in such a way that this may be said of thee: Never has wronged a man in deed or word.

In our relationships with others we must work for their collective good, while treating them justly and fairly as individuals.

It was my tutor who dissuaded me from patronizing Green or Blue at the races, or Light or Heavy in the ring;

and the end of rational animals is to follow the reason and the law of the most ancient city and polity.

What then is that which is able to conduct a man? One thing and only one, philosophy.

No more roundabout discussion of what makes a good man. Be one!

that their happiness doth consist in a disposition to, and in the practice of righteousness;

that no one does the wrong thing deliberately;

whether half frozen or well warm; whether only slumbering, or after a full sleep; whether discommended or commended thou do thy duty: or whether dying or doing somewhat else; for that also "to die," must among the rest be reckoned as one of the duties and actions of our lives.

Antes de llevar a cabo cualquier acto, pregúntate: ¿para qué me servirá? ¿Me arrepentiré? Dentro de poco ya no existiré, todo habrá desaparecido para mí. ¿Qué puedo esperar más, si mi acto presente es digno de un ser inteligente, sociable y sometido a la misma ley de Dios?

17. Not to live as if you had endless years ahead of you. Death overshadows you. While you're alive and able—be good.

Not to wander out of the way, but upon every motion and desire, to perform that which is just: and ever to be careful to attain to the true natural apprehension of every fancy, that presents itself.

But true good fortune is what you make for yourself. Good fortune: good character, good intentions, and good actions.

El mejor procedimiento para vengarse de los malos es procurar no asemejarse a ellos.

It's quite possible to be a good man without anyone realizing it. Remember that.

Whatever any one does or says, I must be good; just as if the gold, or the emerald, or the purple, were always saying this. Whatever any one does or says, I must be emerald and keep my color.

If he thinks x or y about pleasure and pain (and what produces them), about fame and disgrace, about death and life, then it shouldn't shock or surprise you when he does x or y.

Muchas veces comete injusticia el que nada hace, no sólo el que hace algo

Haga o diga alguien lo que quiera, obligado estoy a ser bueno. Como