Ethics and Morality

To sin by silence when we should protest, Makes cowards of men.

There is an eloquent silence: it serves sometimes to approve, sometimes to condemn.

A work of art that contains theories is like an object on which the price tag has been left.

In all proper relationships there is no sacrifice of anyone to anyone.

Almost all of our relationships begin and most of them continue as forms of mutual exploitation, a mental or physical barter, to be terminated when one or both parties run out of goods.

Questions are never indiscreet. Answers sometimes are.

There are no ugly questions except those clothed in condescension.

The noblest question in the world is What Good may I do in it ?

The test of a man or woman’s breeding is how they behave in a quarrel. Anybody can behave well when things are going smoothly.

The real cause, the effective one, that makes men lose power is that they have become unworthy to exercise it.

Politics, n . A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.

The garb of religion is the best cloak for power.

In order to become the master, the politician poses as the servant.

We should often feel ashamed of our best actions if the world could see all of the motives which produced them.

Fear and dull disposition, lukewarmness and sloth, are not seldom wont to cloak themselves under the affected name of moderation.

Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of habit.

Indifference is the revenge the world takes on mediocrities.

When small men attempt great enterprises, they always end by reducing them to the level of their mediocrity.

Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself.

One is tempted to define man as a rational animal who always loses his temper when he is called upon to act in accordance with the dictates of reason.

Man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victims he intends to eat until he eats them.

So many gods, so many creeds, So many paths that wind and wind, While just the art of being kind Is all the sad world needs.

Ignorant kindness may have the effect of cruelty.

When kindness has left people, even for a few moments, we become afraid of them, as if their reason had left them.