Ethics and Morality

The sages do not consider that making no mistakes is a blessing. They believe, rather, that the great virtue of man lies in his ability to correct his mistakes and continually make a new man of himself.

Men are apt to offend (‘tis true) where they find most goodness to forgive.

Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.

It is wise to apply the oil of refined politeness to the mechanisms of friendship.

Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none.

The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends.

We must combine the toughness of the serpent and the softness of the dove, a tough mind and a tender heart.

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.

Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly and they will show themselves great.

He with whom neither slander that gradually soaks into the mind, nor statements that startle like a wound in the flesh, are successful may be called intelligent indeed.

Virtue is not the absence of vices or the avoidance of moral dangers; virtue is a vivid and separate ting, like pain or a particular smell.

As for myself, I always willingly acknowledge my own self as the principal cause of every good and of every evil which may befall me; therefore I have always found myself capable of being my own pupil, and ready to love my teacher.

Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live, as well as strong to think.

A thought which does not result in an action is nothing much, and an action which does not proceed from a thought is nothing at all.

Our inheritance of well founded, slowly conceived codes of honor, morals and manners, the passionate convictions which so many hundreds of millions share together of freedom and justice, are far more precious to us than anything which scientific discoveries can bestow.

If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.

Nature does not bestow virtue; to be good is an art.

In the final analysis there is no solution to man’s progress but the day’s honest work, the day’s honest decisions, the day’s generous utterances and the day’s good deed.

Justice while she winks at crimes, stumbles on innocence sometimes.

He that first cries out "Stop thief!", is often he that has stolen the treasure.

Great wisdom is generous; petty wisdom is contentious. Great speech is impassioned, small speech cantankerous.

You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.

Value is not intrinsic; it is not in things. It is within us; it is the way in which man reacts to the conditions of his environment.

Wise people, even though all laws were abolished, would still lead the same life.