Ethics Quotes | Beyond Motive 18/22

top of page

Ethics Quotes

"If human society loses the value of justice, compassion, and honesty, the next generation will face greater difficulties and more suffering."

"If human society loses the value of justice, compassion, and honesty, the next generation will face greater difficulties and more suffering."

Auliq Ice, Ugandan Economist

Ethics, Justice, Honesty, Values, Morality

2

"The greatest religion [dharma] is that we keep everyone pleased."

"The greatest religion [dharma] is that we keep everyone pleased."

Dada Bhagwan, Indian Spiritual Leader

Ethics, Religion, Truth, Happiness, Wisdom

2

"Whatever we may think of the merits of torturing children for pleasure, and no doubt there is much to be said on both sides, I am sure we all agree that it should be done with sterilized instruments."

"Whatever we may think of the merits of torturing children for pleasure, and no doubt there is much to be said on both sides, I am sure we all agree that it should be done with sterilized instruments."

Gilbert K. Chesterton, English Writer

Ethics, Morality, Justice, Pain

2

"We live in a world full of accidents finally in which on aesthetic principles have a consistency of which we can be sure. Right and wrong we will struggle with forever striving to create and maintain an ethical balance. Right and wrong we will struggle with forever, striving to create and maintain an ethical balance; but the shimmer of summer rain under the street lamps or the great flashing glare of artillery against a night sky " such brutal beauty is beyond dispute."

"We live in a world full of accidents finally in which on aesthetic principles have a consistency of which we can be sure. Right and wrong we will struggle with forever striving to create and maintain an ethical balance. Right and wrong we will struggle with forever, striving to create and maintain an ethical balance; but the shimmer of summer rain under the street lamps or the great flashing glare of artillery against a night sky " such brutal beauty is beyond dispute."

Anne Rice, American Novelist

Ethics, Beauty, Struggle, Right

2

"Doing the right thing for someone else occasionally means doing something that feels wrong to you."

"Doing the right thing for someone else occasionally means doing something that feels wrong to you."

Jodi Picoult, American Novelist

Ethics, Morality, Choice, Sacrifice

2

"Rights begin where love ends. Shall we argue over who is the most to blame?"

"Rights begin where love ends. Shall we argue over who is the most to blame?"

Jeanette Winterson, British Novelist

Ethics, Love, Rights, Blame, Responsibility

2

"Act so that every action of yours should be capable of becoming an universal rule of action for all men."

"Act so that every action of yours should be capable of becoming an universal rule of action for all men."

W. Somerset Maugham, British Playwright

Ethics, Action, Morality, Behavior

2

"It's easy to be a saint when all you've known is the good."

"It's easy to be a saint when all you've known is the good."

Donna Lynn Hope, Jamaican Author

Ethics, Goodness, Morality, Character, Kindness

2

"At certain moments, the foot slips ; at others, the ground gives way. How many times had that conscience, furious for the right, grasped and overwhelmed him! How many times had truth, inexorable, planted her knee upon his breast! How many times, thrown to the ground by the light, had he cried to it for mercy!"

"At certain moments, the foot slips ; at others, the ground gives way. How many times had that conscience, furious for the right, grasped and overwhelmed him! How many times had truth, inexorable, planted her knee upon his breast! How many times, thrown to the ground by the light, had he cried to it for mercy!"

Victor Hugo, French Author

Ethics, Conscience, Truth, Mercy, Justice

2

"Whether you practice craftiness in your business, you will have profit and if you do not practice craftiness, then also you will have [same] profit. Craftiness creates a liability for the next life. So God had said not to do craftiness. There is no benefit in it and there is infinite suffering."

"Whether you practice craftiness in your business, you will have profit and if you do not practice craftiness, then also you will have [same] profit. Craftiness creates a liability for the next life. So God had said not to do craftiness. There is no benefit in it and there is infinite suffering."

Dada Bhagwan, Indian Spiritual Leader

Ethics, Truth, Wisdom, Power, Inspirational

2

"You may use a thousand words for a single lie, but the truth has no twin."

"You may use a thousand words for a single lie, but the truth has no twin."

Michael Bassey Johnson, Nigerian Philosopher

Ethics, Truth, Lie, Honesty, Morality

2

"Might could would-they are contemptible auxiliaries."

"Might could would-they are contemptible auxiliaries."

George Eliot, British Author

Ethics, Power, Contempt, Morality, Strength

2

"When you slander someone [talk negatively about people], you earn a debit in your account and that person will earn a credit. Who would do these kinds of business?"

"When you slander someone [talk negatively about people], you earn a debit in your account and that person will earn a credit. Who would do these kinds of business?"

Dada Bhagwan, Indian Spiritual Leader

Ethics, Karma, Truth, Wisdom, Communication

2

"But every acquisition that is disproportionate to the labor spent on it is dishonest."

"But every acquisition that is disproportionate to the labor spent on it is dishonest."

Leo Tolstoy, Russian Novelist

Ethics, Honesty, Effort, Work, Justice

2

"We need to teach our people to speak what is right as the highest manifestation of morality."

"We need to teach our people to speak what is right as the highest manifestation of morality."

Sunday Adelaja, Nigerian Author

Ethics, Morality, Speaking, Truth, Teaching

2

"I kill in my own time, he said. "In any case, killing unconscious people isn't right."I can't think of a more opportune time, said the Loremaster."

"I kill in my own time, he said. "In any case, killing unconscious people isn't right."I can't think of a more opportune time, said the Loremaster."

Terry Pratchett, English Author

Ethics, Morality, Truth, Power

2

"Every society which allows violence against animals secretly becomes a violent society."

"Every society which allows violence against animals secretly becomes a violent society."

Debasish Mridha, American Author

Ethics, Society, Violence, Animals, Peace

2

"If I want to deprive you of your watch, I shall certainly have to fight for it; if I want to buy your watch, I shall have to pay for it; and if I want a gift, I shall have to plead for it; and, according to the means I employ, the watch is stolen property, my own property, or a donation. Thus we see three different results from three different means. Will you still say that the means do not matter?"

"If I want to deprive you of your watch, I shall certainly have to fight for it; if I want to buy your watch, I shall have to pay for it; and if I want a gift, I shall have to plead for it; and, according to the means I employ, the watch is stolen property, my own property, or a donation. Thus we see three different results from three different means. Will you still say that the means do not matter?"

Mahatma Gandhi, Indian Leader

Ethics, Morality, Justice, Intention

2

"Do not treat others as you would not like to be treated' frees one from hypocrisy. 'Treat others as you would like to be treated' enslaves one with insincerity."

"Do not treat others as you would not like to be treated' frees one from hypocrisy. 'Treat others as you would like to be treated' enslaves one with insincerity."

Mokokoma Mokhonoana, South African Philosopher

Ethics, Morality, Truth, Behavior, Hypocrisy

2

"Whose vow can you abide by? You can take a vow of an idol, because an idol has no ownership. You can abide by a vow of a living being, provided he is not the owner of his body, however if he is the owner of his body, you cannot take his vow, because one day he will make you stumble."

"Whose vow can you abide by? You can take a vow of an idol, because an idol has no ownership. You can abide by a vow of a living being, provided he is not the owner of his body, however if he is the owner of his body, you cannot take his vow, because one day he will make you stumble."

Dada Bhagwan, Indian Spiritual Leader

Ethics, Vow, Ownership, Truth, Life

2

"Let thy true religion be to act right."

"Let thy true religion be to act right."

Lailah Gifty Akita, Ghanaian Author

Ethics, Religion, Action, Morality, Right

2

"Develop a conscience to live by."

"Develop a conscience to live by."

Debasish Mridha, American Author

Ethics, Conscience, Life, Values

2

"Privilege doesn't just insulate people from the consequences of their prejudice, it cuts them off from their humanity."

"Privilege doesn't just insulate people from the consequences of their prejudice, it cuts them off from their humanity."

DaShanne Stokes, American Author

Ethics, Privilege, Humanity, Awareness, Responsibility

1

"From the moment I could even understand what "respect was I knew it was not a choice but the ONLY option."

"From the moment I could even understand what "respect was I knew it was not a choice but the ONLY option."

Carlos Wallace, American Author

Ethics, Respect, Principle, Values, Integrity

1

"Maybe it was that nearly everyone else was dead and she felt a little bit dead too, but she figured that even a vampire deserved to be saved. Maybe she ought to leave him, but she wasn't going to."

"Maybe it was that nearly everyone else was dead and she felt a little bit dead too, but she figured that even a vampire deserved to be saved. Maybe she ought to leave him, but she wasn't going to."

Holly Black, American Author

Ethics, Compassion, Values, Morality, Choice

1

"To deny people of their human rights is to challenge their very humanity."

"To deny people of their human rights is to challenge their very humanity."

Nelson Mandela, South African Statesman

Ethics, Rights, Humanity, Justice, Dignity

1

"If we are to become a land of homes and people, evil men must not be allowed to persist in their evil."

"If we are to become a land of homes and people, evil men must not be allowed to persist in their evil."

Louis L'Amour, American Author

Ethics, Evil, Justice, Protection, Morality

1

"The sin they do by two and two they must pay for one by one."

"The sin they do by two and two they must pay for one by one."

Rudyard Kipling, English Writer

Ethics, Justice, Sin, Responsibility, Accountability

1

"Sellswords put gold before honor."

"Sellswords put gold before honor."

George R. R. Martin, American Author

Ethics, Honor, Gold, Greed, Morality

1

"He is worse than the others, I show. He is worst of all of them.Because"Because he knew he was doing wrong. He felt the pain of his actions"But he did not amend them, shows the Sky.The rest are worth as much as their pack animals, I show, but worst is the one who knows better and does nothing."

"He is worse than the others, I show. He is worst of all of them.Because"Because he knew he was doing wrong. He felt the pain of his actions"But he did not amend them, shows the Sky.The rest are worth as much as their pack animals, I show, but worst is the one who knows better and does nothing."

Patrick Ness, American Author

Ethics, Morality, Knowledge, Choice, Responsibility

1

"I've had enough of someone else's propaganda, I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I'm a human being first and foremost, and as such I'm for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole."

"I've had enough of someone else's propaganda, I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I'm a human being first and foremost, and as such I'm for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole."

Malcolm X, American Activist

Ethics, Truth, Justice, Humanity, Morality

1

"I know myself too well to believe in pure virtue."

"I know myself too well to believe in pure virtue."

Albert Camus, French Philosopher

Ethics, Self, Knowledge, Virtue, Humanity

1

"First, if any opinion is compelled to silence, that opinion may, for aught we can certainly know, be true. To deny this is to assume our own infallibility. Secondly, though the silenced opinion be an error, it may, and very commonly does, contain a portion of the truth; and since the general or prevailing opinion on any subject is rarely or never the whole truth, it is only by the collision of adverse opinions that the remainder of the truth has any chance of being supplied."

"First, if any opinion is compelled to silence, that opinion may, for aught we can certainly know, be true. To deny this is to assume our own infallibility. Secondly, though the silenced opinion be an error, it may, and very commonly does, contain a portion of the truth; and since the general or prevailing opinion on any subject is rarely or never the whole truth, it is only by the collision of adverse opinions that the remainder of the truth has any chance of being supplied."

John Stuart Mill, English Philosopher

Ethics, Truth, Debate, Opinion, Knowledge

1

"God created us all with his love, to be equally treated.No human being is superior over another."

"God created us all with his love, to be equally treated.No human being is superior over another."

Ellen J. Barrier, American Poet

Ethics, Equality, Love, Justice, Faith

1

"Remember that greed includes greed for being not greedy."

"Remember that greed includes greed for being not greedy."

Idries Shah, Indian Author

Ethics, Greed, Paradox, Desire, Self

1

"Talk without the support of action means nothing."

"Talk without the support of action means nothing."

DaShanne Stokes, American Author

Ethics, Action, Speech, Truth, Wisdom

1

"But remember that good intentions pave many roads. Not all of them lead to hell."

"But remember that good intentions pave many roads. Not all of them lead to hell."

Neal Shusterman, American Author

Ethics, Intention, Consequence, Morality, Reflection

1

"Nobody's busting into YOUR apartment at three in the morning, are they? Well, then don't worry about what they're doing in South Korea and places like that. It's like the standard of living. Are you content to achieve your higher standard of living at the expense of people all over the world who've got a lower standard of living? Most Americans would say yes. Now we ask the question, are you content to enjoy your political freedom at the expense of people who are less free? I think they would also say yes."

"Nobody's busting into YOUR apartment at three in the morning, are they? Well, then don't worry about what they're doing in South Korea and places like that. It's like the standard of living. Are you content to achieve your higher standard of living at the expense of people all over the world who've got a lower standard of living? Most Americans would say yes. Now we ask the question, are you content to enjoy your political freedom at the expense of people who are less free? I think they would also say yes."

William S. Burroughs, American Writer

Ethics, Freedom, Privilege, Responsibility

1

"Not to punish evil is equivalent to authorizing it."

"Not to punish evil is equivalent to authorizing it."

Leonardo da Vinci, Italian Artist

Ethics, Justice, Responsibility, Morality

1

"Neither love nor evil conquers all, but evil cheats more."

"Neither love nor evil conquers all, but evil cheats more."

Laurell K. Hamilton, American Writer

Ethics, Evil, Truth, Justice, Observation

1

"It's futile to point the finger of condemnation and say, "Men... this" or "Women... that". Truth is, we are all guilty and innocent of many of life's trials."

"It's futile to point the finger of condemnation and say, "Men... this" or "Women... that". Truth is, we are all guilty and innocent of many of life's trials."

T. F. Hodge, American Motivational Speaker

Ethics, Condemnation, Truth, Guilt, Innocence

1

"What a tragedy, to stand in the middle of your world, watch everything around you fall apart, and realize, your actions precipitated this free fall! Take more time to consider the consequences of your thoughts and actions. One day, you WILL call out for help. Don't let bad judgment disconnect your lifelines."

"What a tragedy, to stand in the middle of your world, watch everything around you fall apart, and realize, your actions precipitated this free fall! Take more time to consider the consequences of your thoughts and actions. One day, you WILL call out for help. Don't let bad judgment disconnect your lifelines."

Carlos Wallace, American Author

Ethics, Consequence, Action, Thought, Responsibility

1

"There's more to good or bad than what's written in the Rulebook."

"There's more to good or bad than what's written in the Rulebook."

Jasper Fforde, British Novelist

Ethics, Morality, Judgement, Rules

1

"Let every man be respected as an individual and no man idolized."

"Let every man be respected as an individual and no man idolized."

Albert Einstein, German Scientist

Ethics, Respect, Individual, Equality, Humanity

1

"Have the best course for all your actions."

"Have the best course for all your actions."

Jaachynma N.E. Agu, Nigerian Author

Ethics, Action, Choice, Morality, Guidance

1

"And what is justice? The princess thought of that proud word 'justice'. All the complex laws of man centered for her in one clear and simple law-the law of love and self-sacrifice taught us by Him who lovingly suffered for mankind though He Himself was God. What had she to do with justice or injustice of other people? She had to endure and love, and that she did."

"And what is justice? The princess thought of that proud word 'justice'. All the complex laws of man centered for her in one clear and simple law-the law of love and self-sacrifice taught us by Him who lovingly suffered for mankind though He Himself was God. What had she to do with justice or injustice of other people? She had to endure and love, and that she did."

Leo Tolstoy, Russian Novelist

Ethics, Justice, Love, Faith, Sacrifice

1

"It isn't about being fair and equal. It's about the difference between right and wrong." He stared out at the bloody Elinarch. "And this was wrong."

"It isn't about being fair and equal. It's about the difference between right and wrong." He stared out at the bloody Elinarch. "And this was wrong."

Jim Butcher, American Author

Ethics, Morality, Justice, Fairness, Right

1

"Discretion in speech is more than eloquence."

"Discretion in speech is more than eloquence."

Francis Bacon, English Philosopher

Ethics, Speech, Discretion, Truth, Communication

1

"Never back a woman you defend, never get quit of a friend on whom you depend, never make face to a foe till he's rife and never get stuck to another man's pfife."

"Never back a woman you defend, never get quit of a friend on whom you depend, never make face to a foe till he's rife and never get stuck to another man's pfife."

James Joyce, Irish Novelist

Ethics, Loyalty, Friendship, Defense, Conflict

1

"My ethical values prevent me from investing in the stock market."

"My ethical values prevent me from investing in the stock market."

Steven Magee, British Author

Ethics, Investment, Truth, Values

1

bottom of page