In each human heart are a tiger, a pig, an ass and a nightingale. Diversity of character is due to their unequal activity.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Integrity has no need of rules.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Novelist
Character is higher than intellect… a great soul will be strong to live, as well as to think.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The only correct actions are those that demand no explanation and no apology.
—Red Auerbach (1917–2006) American Basketball Coach
If a man is not rising upward to be an angel, depend upon it, he is sinking downward to be a devil. He cannot stop at the beast. The most savage of men are not beasts; they are worse, a great deal worse.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
A healthy mind has an easy breath.
—Unknown
Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick and useless as when he is well and can be of service to him. And blessed is he who loves his brother as well when he is afar off as when he is by his side, and who would say nothing behind his back he might not, in love, say before his face.
—Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) Italian Monk, Founder of the Franciscan Order
The strength of a man’s virtue should not be measured by his special exertions, but by his habitual acts.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
Are you not ashamed of heaping up the greatest amount of money and honour and reputation, and caring so little about wisdom and truth and the greatest improvement of the soul?
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Conscience is the inner voice that warns us that somebody may be looking.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
Laws control the lesser man. Right conduct controls the greater one.
—Chinese Proverb
I forgot that every little action of the common day makes or unmakes character, and that therefore what one has done in the secret chamber one has some day to cry aloud on the house-tops.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Humble yourself and you shall be honoured. Honour yourself and you shall be humbled.
—Anonymous
It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Inventor
‘Tis better to suffer wrong than do it.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what’s right.
—Isaac Asimov (1920–92) Russian-born American Writer, Scientist
Every man over forty is responsible for his face.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Have no fear of robbers or murderers. They are external dangers, petty dangers. We should fear ourselves. Prejudices are the real robbers; vices the real murders. The great dangers are within us. Why worry about what threatens our heads or purses? Let us think instead of what threatens our souls.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.
—David Starr Jordan (1851–1931) American Educator, Ichthyologist
God may forgive your sins, but your nervous system won’t.
—Alfred Korzybski (1879–1950) Polish-American Scientist, Philosopher of Language
Principles have no real force except when one is well-fed.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Inventor
The universe seems bankrupt as soon as we begin to discuss the characters of individuals.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
Take care that no one hates you justly.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
I never did, or countenanced, in public life, a single act inconsistent with the strictest good faith; having never believed there was one code of morality for a public, and another for a private man.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
I’m a slow walker, but I never walk back.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
It’s discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.
—Noel Coward (1899–1973) English Dramatist, Actor, Composer
Live with integrity, respect the rights of other people, and follow your own bliss.
—Nathaniel Branden (1930–2014) American Psychotherapist
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