Every aspect of Western culture needs a new code of ethics—a rational ethics—as a precondition of rebirth.
—Ayn Rand (1905–82) Russian-born American Novelist, Philosopher
By ethical argument and moral principle the greatest crimes are eventually shown to have been necessary, and, in fact, a signal benefit to mankind.
—Zhuang Zhou (c.369–c.286 BCE) Chinese Taoist Philosopher
The character ethic, which I believe to be the foundation of success, teaches that there are basic principles of effective living, and that people can only experience true success and enduring happiness as they learn and integrate these principles into their basic character.
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help Author
Rich men without convictions are more dangerous in modern society than poor women without chastity.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
In civilized life, law floats in a sea of ethics.
—Earl Warren (1891–1974) American Judge, Politician
True morality consists no in following the beaten track, but in finding out the true path for ourselves and fearlessly following it.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
The ethics of excellence are grounded in action – what you actually do, rather than what you say you believe. Talk, as the saying goes, is cheap.
—Price Pritchett
You can’t put someone else in charge of your morals. Ethics is a personal discipline.
—Price Pritchett
Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a particular way. We become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
A man’s ethical behavior should be based effectively on sympathy, education, and social relationships; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
A man is ethical only when life, as such, is sacred to him, that of plants and animals as that of his fellow men, and when he devotes himself helpfully to all life that is in need of help.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
Let me give you the definition of ethics: it is good to maintain life and to further life. It is bad to damage and destroy life. And this ethic, profound and universal, has the significance of a religion. It is religion.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
It was once said that the moral test of Government is how that Government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped
—Hubert Humphrey (1911–78) American Head of State, Politician
Action indeed is the sole medium of expression for ethics.
—Jane Addams (1860–1935) American Social Reformer, Feminist
In law, a man is guilty when he violates the rights of another. In ethics he is guilty if he only thinks of doing so.
—Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) Prussian German Philosopher, Logician
The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions. Our inner balance and even our very existence depend on it. Only morality in our actions can give beauty and dignity to life.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
A man without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon this world.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less than a magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy. A man does what he must—in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures—and that is the basis of all morality.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
No artist has ethical sympathies. An ethical sympathy in an artist is an unpardonable mannerism of style.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Freedom, morality, and the human dignity of the individual consists precisely in this; that he does good not because he is forced to do so, but because he freely conceives it, wants it, and loves it.
—Mikhail Bakunin (1814–76) Russian Anarchist Philosopher
To care for anyone else enough to make their problems one’s own, is ever the beginning of one’s real ethical development.
—Felix Adler (1851–1933) German-Born American Philosopher
Without ethics, everything happens as if we were all five billion passengers on a big machinery and nobody is driving the machinery. And it’s going faster and faster, but we don’t know where.
—Jacques Cousteau (1910–97) French Oceanographer, Documentary Director
We all faced painful ethical challenges before we even knew how to spell our names. There were tough choices. Tradeoffs. Confusing signals regarding how to live one’s life. And here we are now, today, still struggling. Still trying to sort things out. Still trying to work our way through life effectively. About the only thing that has changed is the scope of the problem. There’s more at stake now. And we’re in a position, as grownups, to do a lot more-good or bad-for ourselves, our organization, our world. But we still must wrestle with our imperfect ethics.
—Price Pritchett
People need religion. It’s a vehicle for a moral tradition. A crucial role. Nothing can take its place.
—Irving Kristol (1920–2009) American Political Writer, Publisher
Relativity applies to physics, not ethics.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. The more weapons you have, the less secure people will be.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
We endeavor to make a virtue of the faults we are unwilling to correct.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Ethical religion can be real only to those who are engaged in ceaseless efforts at moral improvement. By moving upward we acquire faith in an upward movement, without limit.
—Felix Adler (1851–1933) German-Born American Philosopher
Because you’re able to do it and because you have the right to do it doesn’t mean it’s right to do it.
—Laura Schlessinger (b.1947) American Radio Talk-Show Host, Author