Quotes about Ethics

Ultimately, the only power to which man should aspire is that which he exercises over himself.

Free will is the power of choosing good and evil.

When extraordinary power and extraordinary pay are allotted to any individual in a government, he becomes the center, round which every kind of corruption generates and forms.

The descent to hell is easy and those who begin by worshipping power, soon worship evil.

Wherever there is interest and power to do wrong, wrong will generally be done.

Make crime pay. Become a lawyer.

You give us long enough to argue over something and we will bring you in proofs to show that the Ten Commandments should never be ratified.

Many persons have of late left off the use of West-India sugar on account of the iniquitous manner in which it is obtained. Those families who have done so, and have not substituted any thing else in its place, have not only cleansed their hands of blood, but have made a saving to their families, some of six pence, and some of a shilling a week. If this, or a part of this were appropriated to the uses before-mentioned, it would abundantly suffice

A man's moral conscience is the curse he had to accept from the gods in order to gain from them the right to dream.

I believe in the theoretical benevolence, and the practical malignity of man.

Even a highwayman, in the way of trade, may blow out your brains, but if he uses foul language at the same time, I should say he was no gentleman.

Every man, in his own opinion, forms an exception to the ordinary rules of morality.