Copernicus … did not publish his book [on the nature of the solar system] until he was on his deathbed. He knew how dangerous it is to be right when the rest of the world is wrong.
—Thomas Brackett Reed (1839–1902) American Politician, Lawyer
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
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
What is wrong today won’t be right tomorrow.
—Dutch Proverb
The real compensation of a right action is inherent in having performed it.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, 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
A president’s hardest task is not to do what is right, but to know what is right.
—Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–73) American Head of State, Political leader
A small demerit extinguishes a long service.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Two wrongs do not make a right.
—Common Proverb
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
In the blood of the martyrs to intolerance are the seeds of unbelief.
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974) American Journalist, Political Commentator, Writer
I received a letter from a lad asking me for an easy berth. To this I replied: You cannot be an editor; do not try the law; do not think of the ministry; let alone all ships and merchandise; abhor politics; don’t practice medicine; be not a farmer or a soldier or a sailor; don’t study, don’t think. None of these are easy. O, my son, you have come into a hard world. I know of only one easy place in it, and that is the grave.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Things have got to be wrong in order that they may be deplored.
—Alfred Whitney Griswold (1906–63) American Historian, Educator
Never do wrong when people are looking.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
I saw a bank that said “24-Hour Banking”, but I don’t have that much time.
—Steven Wright (b.1955) American Comedian, Actor, Writer
I am the inferior of any man whose rights I trample under foot.
—Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–99) American Lawyer, Orator, Agnostic
To think that I know what’s best for anyone else is to be out of my business. Even in the name of love, it is pure arrogance, and the result is tension, anxiety, and fear. Do I know what’s right for me? That is my only business. Let me work with that before I try to solve problems for you.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
The last temptation is the greatest treason: to do the right deed for the wrong reason.
—T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) American-born British Poet, Dramatist, Literary Critic
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, Political leader, Philosopher
Freedom is not the right to do what we want, but what we ought. Let us have faith that right makes might and in that faith let us; to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
The golden rule is that there are no golden rules.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
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
Those who are once found to be bad are presumed so forever.
—Latin Proverb
Nothing can be truly great which is not right.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
It’s easier to remember when you are right than when the other person was right.
—Robert Half
Few sometimes may know, when thousands err.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Oh, the difference between nearly right and exactly right.
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (b.1940) American Self-Help Author
Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Reason often makes mistakes, but conscience never does.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer