Quotes about Morality

To enjoy the things we ought, and to hate the things we ought, has the greatest bearing on excellence of character.

I call that law universal, which is conformable merely to dictates of nature; for there does exist naturally an universal sense of right and wrong, which, in a certain degree, all intuitively divine, even should no intercourse with each other, nor any compact have existed.

Both excess and defect are alike prejudicial to moral virtue.

Happiness is a thing which calls for honor rather than for praise.

The majority of mankind would seem to be beguiled into error by pleasure, which, not being really a good, yet seems to be so. So that they indiscriminately choose as good whatsoever gives them pleasure, while they avoid all pain alike as evil.

Bad men are full of repentance.

The precepts of the law may be comprehended under these three points: to live honestly, to hurt no man willfully, and to render every man his due carefully.

Wicked men obey for fear, but the good for love.

Happiness consists in the consciousness of a life in which the highest Virtue is actively manifested.

While both [Plato and truth] are dear, piety requires us to honor truth above our friends.

Let us be well persuaded that everyone of us possesses happiness in proportion to his virtue and wisdom, and according as he acts in obedience to their suggestion.

What the statesman is most anxious to produce is a certain moral character in his fellow citizens, namely a disposition to virtue and the performance of virtuous actions.