Ethics and Morality

Force always attracts men of low morality, and I believe it to be an invariable rule that tyrants of genius are succeeded by scoundrels.

Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted in important affairs.

The Nuremberg Trial of the German war criminals was tacitly based on the recognition of the principle: Criminal actions cannot be excused if committed on government orders; conscience supersedes the authority of the law of the state.

He who is untrue to his own cause cannot command the respect of others.

Thus I came… to a deep religiosity, which, however, found an abrupt ending at the age of 12. Through the reading of popular scientific books I soon reached the conviction that much in the stories of the Bible could not be true… Suspicion against every kind of authority grew out of this experience—an attitude which has never again left me.

A forced faithfulness is a bitter fruit for all concerned.

In the case of political, and even of religious, leaders, it is often very doubtful whether they have done more good or harm.

The conscientious objector is a revolutionary. In deciding to disobey the law he sacrifices his personal interests to the most important cause of working for the betterment of society.

The State exists for man, not man for the State… I believe that the most important mission of the State is to protect the individual and make it possible for him to develop into a creative personality. The State should be our servant; we should not be slaves of the State. The State violates this precept when it forces us to perform military service.

To punish me for my contempt of authority, Fate has made me an authority myself.

If one purges all subsequent additions from the original teachings of the Prophets and Christianity, especially those of the priests, one is left with a doctrine that is capable of curing all the social ills of humankind.

Blind obedience to authority is the greatest enemy of the truth.

Try to become not a man of success, but try rather to become a man of value.

I am absolutely convinced that no wealth in the world can help humanity forward, even in the hands of the most devoted worker in this cause. The example of great and pure characters is the only thing that can produce fine ideas and noble deeds. Money only appeals to selfishness and always tempts its owners irresistibly to abuse it.

Judges must follow their oaths and do their duty, heedless of editorials, letters, telegrams, threats, petitions, panellists and talk shows.

Plain living and high thinking are no more:

On that best portion of a good man’s life,

It is better to be beautiful than to be good.

The moral life of man forms part of the subject matter of the artist, but the morality of art consists in the perfect use of an imperfect medium.

A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Every great man nowadays has his disciples, and it is always Judas who writes the biography.

I hope you have not been leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being really good all the time. That would be hypocrisy.

What is morality in any given time or place? It is what the majority then and there happen to like, and immorality is what they dislike.

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.