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Quotes about morality

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If a person is stupid, we excuse him by saying that he cannot help it; but if we attempted to excuse in precisely the same way the person who is bad, we should be laughed at.
Arthur Schopenhauer1788–1860The World as Will and Representation, vol. 2 (trans. E. F. J. Payne), p. 230
- Intelligence
The ethic of Reverence for Life is the ethic of Love widened into universality.
Albert Schweitzer1875–1965Out of My Life and Thought (1933), Epilogue, p. 235
- Love
Ethics is in its unqualified form extended responsibility to everything that has life.
Albert Schweitzer1875–1965Kulturphilosophie (1923), Vol. 2: Civilization and Ethics
- Responsibility
For he that does good, having the unlimited power to do evil, deserves praise not only for the good which he performs, but for the evil which he forbears.
Walter Scott1771–1832Ivanhoe (1819), Chapter XXXIIIIn context
- Good & Evil
- Power
In argument about moral problems, relativism is the first refuge of the scoundrel.
Roger Scruton1944–2020Modern Philosophy (1995), “Some More -isms”, p. 32
Once again prosperous and successful crime goes by the name of virtue; good men obey the bad, might is right and fear oppresses law.
Seneca the Younger5 BC–AD 65Hercules Furens (The Madness of Hercules), lines 251-253; (Amphitryon)
Treat your inferiors as you would be treated by your betters.
Seneca the Younger5 BC–AD 65Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter XLVII: On master and slave, Line 11
- Advice
I am a man,
More sinn’d against than sinning.
William Shakespeare1564–1616King Lear (1605–6), Act III, scene ii.In context
- Good & Evil
There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
William Shakespeare1564–1616Hamlet (1600–1), Act II, scene ii.In context
- Good & Evil
- Thinking
If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men’s cottages princes’ palaces.
William Shakespeare1564–1616The Merchant of Venice (1596–7), Act I, scene ii.In context
Do not as some ungracious pastors do,
Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven;
Whilst like a puff’d and reckless libertine
Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads,
And recks not his own rede.
William Shakespeare1564–1616Hamlet (c. 1600), Act I, Scene III, spoken by OpheliaIn context
- Advice
That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain!
William Shakespeare1564–1616Hamlet (c. 1600), Act I, Scene V, spoken by HamletIn context
- Good & Evil
- Truth & Lies
Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
William Shakespeare1564–1616Macbeth (c. 1606), Act I, Scene I, spoken by AllIn context
- Good & Evil
And oftentimes to win us to our harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us truths;
Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s
In deepest consequence.
William Shakespeare1564–1616Macbeth (c. 1606), Act I, Scene III, spoken by BanquoIn context
- Good & Evil
- Truth & Lies
Stars, hide your fires!
Let not light see my black and deep desires.
William Shakespeare1564–1616Macbeth (c. 1606), Act I, Scene IV, spoken by MacbethIn context
- Good & Evil