Would you rather be right or free?
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
The fears of one class of men are not the measure of the rights of another.
—George Bancroft (1800–91) American Historian, Politician
If the world despises you because you do not follow its ways, pay no heed to it. But be sure your way is right.
—Unknown
In giving rights to others which belong to them, we give rights to ourselves and to our country.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
Being right half the time beats being half-right all the time.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
Without our stories, we are not only able to act clearly and fearlessly, we are also a friend, a listener. We are people living happy lives. We are appreciation and gratitude that have become as natural as breath itself. Happiness is the natural state for someone who knows that there’s nothing to know and that we already have everything we need, right here now.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
I love not rushing the process. Mind doesn’t shift until it does, and when it does shift, it’s right on time, not one second too late or too soon. People are like seeds waiting to sprout. We can’t be pushed ahead of our own understanding.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
One of the grandest things in having rights is that though they are your rights you may give them up.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
The last temptation is the greatest treason: to do the right deed for the wrong reason.
—T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) American-British Poet, Dramatist, Literary Critic
We declare our right on this earth to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.
—Malcolm X (1925–65) American Civil Rights Leader
It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Every society honors its live conformists
and its dead troublemakers.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
I would be presumptuous, indeed, to present myself against the distinguished gentlemen to whom you have listened if this were a mere measuring of abilities; but this is not a contest between persons. The humblest citizen in all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error. I come to speak to you in defence of a cause as holy as the cause of liberty
—William Jennings Bryan (1860–1925) American Political Leader, Diplomat, Politician
The meek shall inherit the earth, but not its mineral rights.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Nothing but the right can ever be expedient, since that can never be true expediency which would sacrifice a greater good to a less.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
For right is right, since God is God and right the day must win. To doubt would be disloyalty, to falter would be sin.
—Frederick William Faber (1814–63) British Hymn Writer, Theologian
Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
From a worldly point of view, there is no mistake so great as that of being always right.
—Samuel Butler
I would rather be right than be president.
—Henry Clay (1777–1852) American Politician
To see what is right, and not do it, is want of courage, or of principle.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Right is right, even if everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Philosopher, Political Leader
A small demerit extinguishes a long service.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
In reality, there is no such thing as a “should” or a “shouldn’t”. These are only thoughts that we impose onto reality. The mind is like a carpenter’s level. When the bubble is off to one side—“It shouldn’t be raining”—we can know that the mind is caught in its thinking. When the bubble is right in the middle—“It’s raining”—we can know that the surface level and the mind is accepting reality as it is. Without the “should” and “shouldn’t,” we can see reality as it is, and this leaves us free to act efficiently, clearly, and sanely. Asking “What’s the reality of it?” can help bring the mind out of its story, back into the real world.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
The subliminal mind receives and remembers all those touches that delight the soul. Our soul takes joy in this right touching by the Essence of all experience.
—Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950) Indian Mystic, Philosopher, Poet
What is right is often forgotten by what is convenient.
—Bodie Thoene
Rights! There are no rights whatever without corresponding duties. Look at the history of the growth of our constitution, and you will see that our ancestors never upon any occasion stated, as a ground for claiming any of their privileges, an abstract right inherent in themselves; you will nowhere in our parliamentary records find the miserable sophism of the Rights of Man.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
Man’s greatness consists in his ability to do and the proper application of his powers to things needed to be done.
—Frederick Douglass (1817–95) American Abolitionist, Author, Editor, Diplomat, Leader
It is far better for a man to go wrong in freedom than to go right in chains.
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95) English Biologist
Leave a Reply