Morality Quotes | Beyond Motive 7/29

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Morality Quotes

"And this is the forbidden truth, the unspeakable taboo - that evil is not always repellent but frequently attractive; that it has the power to make of us not simply victims, as nature and accident do, but active accomplices."

"And this is the forbidden truth, the unspeakable taboo - that evil is not always repellent but frequently attractive; that it has the power to make of us not simply victims, as nature and accident do, but active accomplices."

Joyce Carol Oates, American Novelist

Morality, Evil, Truth, Warning, Temptation

28

"The type of fig leaf which each culture employs to cover its social taboos offers a twofold description of its morality. It reveals that certain unacknowledged behavior exists and it suggests the form that such behavior takes."

"The type of fig leaf which each culture employs to cover its social taboos offers a twofold description of its morality. It reveals that certain unacknowledged behavior exists and it suggests the form that such behavior takes."

Freda Adler, American Educator

Morality, Behavior, Culture

28

"Legislating morality grows big government immensely, and helps fashion the noose the government will use to ultimately hang you by."

"Legislating morality grows big government immensely, and helps fashion the noose the government will use to ultimately hang you by."

A.E. Samaan, American Author

Morality, Legislation, Power, Liberty

28

"I am never to act otherwise than so that I could also will that my maxim should become universal law."

"I am never to act otherwise than so that I could also will that my maxim should become universal law."

Immanuel Kant, German Philosopher

Morality, Law, Ethics, Universal

28

"The power of the sin is in its secrecy. Rip the covers off!"

"The power of the sin is in its secrecy. Rip the covers off!"

TemitOpe Ibrahim, Nigerian Poet

Morality, Sin, Truth, Awareness

28

"Before passing judgement on someone's choices, stop and look at the questions they were trying to answer."

"Before passing judgement on someone's choices, stop and look at the questions they were trying to answer."

Domonique Bertolucci, Australian Author

Morality, Judgement, Choice, Reflection, Compassion

28

"O temporal O mores! O what times! what morals!"

"O temporal O mores! O what times! what morals!"

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

Morality, Decay, Time, Critique

28

"The subtle and deadly change of heart that might occur in you would be involved with the realization that a civilization is not destroyed by wicked people, it is not necessary that people be wicked but only that they be spineless."

"The subtle and deadly change of heart that might occur in you would be involved with the realization that a civilization is not destroyed by wicked people, it is not necessary that people be wicked but only that they be spineless."

James Baldwin, American Novelist

Morality, Courage, Observation, Reflection

28

"All men are great for they convey something through their deeds and while most of them do from their misdeeds!"

"All men are great for they convey something through their deeds and while most of them do from their misdeeds!"

Ramana Pemmaraju, Indian Physician

Morality, Greatness, Humanity, Action

28

"Democracy without morality is impossible."

"Democracy without morality is impossible."

Jack Kemp, American Politician

Morality, Democracy

28

"Charity is to be measured, not by what one has given away, but by what one has left."

"Charity is to be measured, not by what one has given away, but by what one has left."

Fulton J. Sheen, American Clergyman

Morality, Charity, Ethics, Generosity, Responsibility

28

"Men who do not forgive women their little faults will never enjoy their great virtues."

"Men who do not forgive women their little faults will never enjoy their great virtues."

Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese Philosopher

Morality, Forgiveness, Men, Women, Judgment

27

"Thinking that morality is all about commandments is a relatively new way of thinking, since the Reformation."

"Thinking that morality is all about commandments is a relatively new way of thinking, since the Reformation."

Timothy Radcliffe, English Clergyman

Morality, Thinking

27

"It is a self-deception of philosophers and moralists to imagine that they escape decadence by opposing it. That is beyond their will; and, however little they acknowledge it, one later discovers that they were among the most powerful promoters of decadence."

"It is a self-deception of philosophers and moralists to imagine that they escape decadence by opposing it. That is beyond their will; and, however little they acknowledge it, one later discovers that they were among the most powerful promoters of decadence."

Friedrich Nietzsche, German Philosopher

Morality, Philosophy, Power, Truth

27

"Good and bad exist always, everywhere."

"Good and bad exist always, everywhere."

R. Alan Woods, American Author

Morality, Evil, Truth, Wisdom, Observation

27

"The refusal to take sides on great moral issues is itself a decision. It is a silent acquiescence to evil. The Tragedy of our time is that those who still believe in honesty lack fire and conviction, while those who believe in dishonesty are full of passionate conviction."

"The refusal to take sides on great moral issues is itself a decision. It is a silent acquiescence to evil. The Tragedy of our time is that those who still believe in honesty lack fire and conviction, while those who believe in dishonesty are full of passionate conviction."

Fulton J. Sheen, American Clergyman

Morality, Conviction, Evil, Courage

27

"If pride is a sin, then love must be the mother of sin."

"If pride is a sin, then love must be the mother of sin."

Lionel Suggs, American Writer

Morality, Pride, Love, Sin

27

"Perhaps misguided moral passion is better than confused indifference."

"Perhaps misguided moral passion is better than confused indifference."

Iris Murdoch, Irish Author

Morality, Indifference, Passion

27

"Well, but you affirm that virtue is only elicited by temptation; - and you think that a woman cannot be too little exposed to temptation, or too little acquainted with vice, or anything connected therewith ' It must be, either, that you think she is essentially so vicious, or so feeble - minded that she cannot withstand temptation, - and though she may be pure and innocent as long as she is kept in ignorance and restraint, yet, being destitute of real virtue, to teach her how to sin is at once to make her a sinner."

"Well, but you affirm that virtue is only elicited by temptation; - and you think that a woman cannot be too little exposed to temptation, or too little acquainted with vice, or anything connected therewith ' It must be, either, that you think she is essentially so vicious, or so feeble - minded that she cannot withstand temptation, - and though she may be pure and innocent as long as she is kept in ignorance and restraint, yet, being destitute of real virtue, to teach her how to sin is at once to make her a sinner."

Anne Bronte, British Novelist

Morality, Temptation, Virtue, Judgment

27

"Never mind your happiness do your duty."

"Never mind your happiness do your duty."

Will Durant, American Historian

Morality, Duty, Happiness, Responsibility, Truth

27

"Verily the kindness that gazes upon itself in a mirror turns to stone,And a good deed that calls itself by tender names becomes the parent to a curse."

"Verily the kindness that gazes upon itself in a mirror turns to stone,And a good deed that calls itself by tender names becomes the parent to a curse."

Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese Philosopher

Morality, Kindness, Deed, Transformation

27

"I come only to ask a simple question. Is Muad'Dib's death to be followed by the moral suicide of all men? Is that the inevitable aftermath of a Messiah?"

"I come only to ask a simple question. Is Muad'Dib's death to be followed by the moral suicide of all men? Is that the inevitable aftermath of a Messiah?"

Frank Herbert, American Writer

Morality, Death, Men, Faith

27

"If you want to know if someone is lying to you, start by living a truthful life. Once you live in the truth, you will not be easily deceived."

"If you want to know if someone is lying to you, start by living a truthful life. Once you live in the truth, you will not be easily deceived."

Molly Friedenfeld, American Author

Morality, Honesty, Truth, Observation, Power

27

"When my father is stern, no one chastises him. I don't think it's fair that when I act similarly, I'm seen as cruel. I'm making a huge decision, and I'm trying to be wise about it."

"When my father is stern, no one chastises him. I don't think it's fair that when I act similarly, I'm seen as cruel. I'm making a huge decision, and I'm trying to be wise about it."

Kiera Cass, American Novelist

Morality, Justice, Authority, Decision, Wisdom

27

"Morality and expediency coincide more than the cynics allow."

"Morality and expediency coincide more than the cynics allow."

Roy Hattersley, British Statesman

Morality, Expediency

26

"Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others."

"Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others."

Confucius, Chinese Philosopher

Morality, Self, Evil, Responsibility, Change

26

"If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character.If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home.If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nations.When there is order in the nations, there will peace in the world."

"If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character.If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home.If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nations.When there is order in the nations, there will peace in the world."

Confucius, Chinese Philosopher

Morality, Righteousness, Character, Beauty, Harmony

26

"Shame is an ornament to the young a disgrace to the old."

"Shame is an ornament to the young a disgrace to the old."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Morality, Shame, Youth, Old, Disgrace

26

"We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."

"We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."

Elie Wiesel, American Novelist

Morality, Justice, Neutrality, Action, Ethics

26

"People are gonna disappoint you sometimes. We're flawed creatures. Not one of us is perfect, not even you, and you've gotta let people mess up and then you've gotta forgive them. That's just life."

"People are gonna disappoint you sometimes. We're flawed creatures. Not one of us is perfect, not even you, and you've gotta let people mess up and then you've gotta forgive them. That's just life."

Jenny Han, American Novelist

Morality, Forgiveness, Flaws, Humanity, Observation

26

"Don't tell me your name. It's likely to awaken my conscience, and that's the last thing we want."

"Don't tell me your name. It's likely to awaken my conscience, and that's the last thing we want."

Julia Quinn, American Novelist

Morality, Conscience, Truth, Wisdom, Observation

26

"Any process that fails the Common Sense Test, cannot pass a Biblical Test. Those who have more should share with those who have none or less; not the other way round. Prosperity Gospel is antichrist."

"Any process that fails the Common Sense Test, cannot pass a Biblical Test. Those who have more should share with those who have none or less; not the other way round. Prosperity Gospel is antichrist."

Felix Wantang, Cameroonian Author

Morality, Religious, Justice, Sharing

26

"Hate the sin, not the sinner, isn't that what good people say? Or are you asking yourself at what point does the sin overtake the sinner?"

"Hate the sin, not the sinner, isn't that what good people say? Or are you asking yourself at what point does the sin overtake the sinner?"

Katie McGarry, American Author

Morality, Sin, Judgment, Ethics

26

"Never having been troubled by a conscience before, I was far from sure what to expect of one, and so when for a minute or two each day at dawn a voice began to whisper to me to be a better man, I decided the shock of recent events had finally woken mine. My conscience had a name- Baraqel. I didn't like him much."

"Never having been troubled by a conscience before, I was far from sure what to expect of one, and so when for a minute or two each day at dawn a voice began to whisper to me to be a better man, I decided the shock of recent events had finally woken mine. My conscience had a name- Baraqel. I didn't like him much."

Mark Lawrence, British Novelist

Morality, Conscience, Awareness, Self, Responsibility

26

"The wider our conscience, the wider the impact of our actions, and I do believe someone with more light has the moral duty to enlighten others."

"The wider our conscience, the wider the impact of our actions, and I do believe someone with more light has the moral duty to enlighten others."

Robin Sacredfire, Portuguese Philosopher

Morality, Conscience, Responsibility, Light

26

"It was easier to tell a hero from villain when the stakes were only life or death. Everything in between gets harder."

"It was easier to tell a hero from villain when the stakes were only life or death. Everything in between gets harder."

Maggie Stiefvater, American Author

Morality, Heroism, Life, Villainy

26

"As long as it comes from the heart, in the end, it will be good."

"As long as it comes from the heart, in the end, it will be good."

A. D. Posey, American Poet

Morality, Heart, Truth, Goodness, Authenticity

26

"And I came to believe that good and evil are names for what people do, not for what they are. All we can say is that this is a good deed, because it helps someone or that's an evil one because it hurts them. People are too complicated to have simple labels."

"And I came to believe that good and evil are names for what people do, not for what they are. All we can say is that this is a good deed, because it helps someone or that's an evil one because it hurts them. People are too complicated to have simple labels."

Philip Pullman, British Writer

Morality, Complexity, Behavior, Judgment

26

"Why can't I be like that? Why can't I be the father who just shrugs off the love of his daughter? Why can't I be the Lead Inquisitor who enjoys watching his pleading victims burn at the stake? Why can't I be the one who befriends a lonely, lost girl and then casts her out? Why can't I be the one to strike first, to hit so early and with such fury that my enemies cower before they can ever think of turning on me? What is so great about being good?"

"Why can't I be like that? Why can't I be the father who just shrugs off the love of his daughter? Why can't I be the Lead Inquisitor who enjoys watching his pleading victims burn at the stake? Why can't I be the one who befriends a lonely, lost girl and then casts her out? Why can't I be the one to strike first, to hit so early and with such fury that my enemies cower before they can ever think of turning on me? What is so great about being good?"

Marie Lu, American Author

Morality, Evil, Choice, Reflection

26

"Every other knowledge is harmful to him who does not have knowledge of goodness."

"Every other knowledge is harmful to him who does not have knowledge of goodness."

Michel de Montaigne, French Philosopher

Morality, Knowledge, Goodness, Values, Wisdom

25

"You. What is the moral difference, ifany, between the soldier and the civilian?""The difference," I answered carefully, "lies in the field of civicvirtue. A soldier accepts personal responsibility for the safety of the bodypolitic of which he is a member, defending it, if need be, with his life.The civilian does not."

"You. What is the moral difference, ifany, between the soldier and the civilian?""The difference," I answered carefully, "lies in the field of civicvirtue. A soldier accepts personal responsibility for the safety of the bodypolitic of which he is a member, defending it, if need be, with his life.The civilian does not."

Robert A. Heinlein, American Writer

Morality, Responsibility, Military, Ethics

25

"Manners easily and rapidly mature into morals."

"Manners easily and rapidly mature into morals."

Horace Mann, American Educator

Morality, Manners, Morals

25

"Human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected."

"Human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected."

George Washington, American President

Morality, Happiness, Duty, Connection

25

"And there was a real shedding of the old dogma, like boundaries of morality were being broken down and everybody was into the new party mode of just loving on each other. Which destroyed thousands of us. I lost 16 of my personal friends through that lifestyle."

"And there was a real shedding of the old dogma, like boundaries of morality were being broken down and everybody was into the new party mode of just loving on each other. Which destroyed thousands of us. I lost 16 of my personal friends through that lifestyle."

Barry McGuire, American Musician

Morality, Being, Friends, Old

25

"Evil does not fight against evil, rather it struggles against Good. Where as, Good does not struggle against evil, rather it overwhelmingly defeats it."

"Evil does not fight against evil, rather it struggles against Good. Where as, Good does not struggle against evil, rather it overwhelmingly defeats it."

R. Alan Woods, American Author

Morality, Goodness, Truth, Wisdom, Power

25

"I look upon it as a Point of Morality, to be obliged by those who endeavour to oblige me."

"I look upon it as a Point of Morality, to be obliged by those who endeavour to oblige me."

Richard Steele, British Dramatist

24

"Be annoyed and sin not."

"Be annoyed and sin not."

R. Alan Woods, American Author

Morality, Sin, Patience, Behavior, Truth

24

"Never forget that there are only two philosophies to rule your life: the one of the cross, which starts with the fast and ends with the feast. The other of Satan, which starts with the feast and ends with the headache."

"Never forget that there are only two philosophies to rule your life: the one of the cross, which starts with the fast and ends with the feast. The other of Satan, which starts with the feast and ends with the headache."

Fulton J. Sheen, American Clergyman

Morality, Philosophy, Religion, Choice, Life

24

"I don't care what your excuse is, I don't care what you think God told you to do, if you are in the business of closing children's minds and obliterating their capacity to imagine, and depriving them of a capacity to laugh, then you are a criminal. Maybe not under the law, but under any decent system of morality.Shame on anyone who brainwashes a child and attacks their individual liberty and deprives them of the freedom that is the very definition of a human being. Shame."

"I don't care what your excuse is, I don't care what you think God told you to do, if you are in the business of closing children's minds and obliterating their capacity to imagine, and depriving them of a capacity to laugh, then you are a criminal. Maybe not under the law, but under any decent system of morality.Shame on anyone who brainwashes a child and attacks their individual liberty and deprives them of the freedom that is the very definition of a human being. Shame."

Michael Grant, American Author

Morality, Freedom, Children, Ethics, Imagination

24

"I used to think I knew what was right and what was wrong, and who the good guys are, and who the bad guys are. Then the world got very gray, and I didn't know anything for a long time."

"I used to think I knew what was right and what was wrong, and who the good guys are, and who the bad guys are. Then the world got very gray, and I didn't know anything for a long time."

Laurell K. Hamilton, American Writer

Morality, Confusion, Truth, Reflection

24

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