While moral rules may be propounded by authority the fact that these were so propounded would not validate them.
—A. J. Ayer (1910–89) English Philosopher
Morality comes with the sad wisdom of age, when the sense of curiosity has withered.
—Graham Greene (1904–91) British Novelist, Playwright, Short Story Writer
It’s morally wrong to allow a sucker to keep his money.
—W. C. Fields (1880–1946) American Actor, Comedian, Writer
The difference between a moral man and a man of honor is that the latter regrets a discreditable act, even when it has worked and he has not been caught.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
Every young man would do well to remember that all successful business stands on the foundation of morality.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Force always attracts men of low morality, and I believe it to be an invariable rule that tyrants of genius are succeeded by scoundrels.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Morality is not really the doctrine of how to make ourselves happy but of how we are to be worthy of happiness
—Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) Prussian German Philosopher, Logician
Learn what a people glory in, and you may learn much of both the theory and practice of their morals.
—James Martineau (1805–1900) English Philosopher, Religious Leader
The essence of morality is a questioning about morality; and the decisive move of human life is to use ceaselessly all light to look for the origin of the opposition between good and evil.
—Georges Bataille (1897–1962) French Essayist, Intellectual
Unfortunately, moral beauty in art—like physical beauty in a person—is extremely perishable. It is nowhere so durable as artistic or intellectual beauty. Moral beauty has a tendency to decay very rapidly into sententiousness or untimeliness.
—Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher
Compassion is the basis of all morality.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
If your morals make you dreary, depend upon it they are wrong. I do not say “give them up,” for they may be all you have; but conceal them like a vice, lest they should spoil the lives of better and simpler people.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
To set up as a standard of public morality a notion which can neither be defined nor conceived is to open the door to every kind of tyranny.
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
Our morality seems to be only a check on the ultimate domination of force, just as our politeness is a check on the impulse of every pig to put his feet in the trough.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
Piety and morality are but the same spirit differently manifested. Piety is religion with its fact toward God; morality is religion with its fact toward the world.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
When virtue is lost, benevolence appears, when benevolence is lost right conduct appears, when right conduct is lost, expedience appears. Expediency is the mere shadow of right and truth; it is the beginning of disorder.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Discourses on morality and reflection on human nature, are the best means we can make use of to improve our minds, gain a true knowledge of ourselves, and recover our souls out of the vice, ignorance, and prejudice which naturally cleave to them.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Men are more moral than they think and far more immoral than they can imagine.
—Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) Austrian Psychiatrist, Psychoanalytic
Moral codes adjust themselves to environmental conditions.
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Industrialist
We have, in fact, two kinds of morality side by side; one which we preach but do not practice and another which we practice but seldom preach.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Don’t let us make imaginary evils, when you know we have so many real ones to encounter.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Morality is suspecting other people of not being legally married.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
There are few things more disturbing than to find, in somebody we detest, a moral quality which seems to us demonstrably superior to anything we ourselves possess. It augurs not merely an unfairness on the part of creation, but a lack of artistic judgment. Sainthood is acceptable only in saints.
—Pamela Hansford Johnson (1912–81) English Novelist, Playwright, Poet, Literary Critic, Social Critic
The great rule of moral conduct is, next to God, to respect time.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Gossip is charming! History is merely gossip. But scandal is gossip made tedious by morality.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Moralizing and morals are two entirely different things and are always found in entirely different people
—Don Herold (1889–1966) American Humorist, Writer, Illustrator, Cartoonist
Corruption is like a ball of snow, once it’s set a rolling it must increase.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
I reject any religious doctrine that does not appeal to reason and is in conflict with morality.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader