Ethics and Morality

A child should always say what’s true And speak when he is spoken to, And behave mannerly at table; At least as far as he is able.

The gratifying feeling that our duty has been done.

My object all sublime I shall achieve in time— To let the punishment fit the crime. 3

Much Madness is divinest Sense— To a discerning Eye— Much Sense—the starkest Madness— ’Tis the Majority In this, as All, prevail— Assent—and you are sane— Demur—you’re straightway dangerous— And handled with a Chain.

Cynicism is intellectual dandyism.

No villain need be! Passions spin the plot: We are betrayed by what is false within.

So, loath to suffer mute, We, peopling the void air, Make Gods to whom to impute The ills we ought to bear.

We do not what we ought; What we ought not, we do; And lean upon the thought That chance will bring us through.

Be neither saint- nor sophist-led, but be a man!

Hypocrite lecteur—mon semblable—mon frère [Hypocrite reader—my double—my brother]!

I don’t believe in princerple, But oh I du in interest.

Ez fer war, I call it murder— There you hev it plain an’ flat; I don’t want to go no furder Than my Testyment fer that.

And I honor the man who is willing to sink Half his present repute for the freedom to think, And, when he has thought, be his cause strong or weak, Will risk t’ other half for the freedom to speak.

Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side.

No graven images may be Worshipped, except the currency.

Thou shalt not covet, but tradition Approves all forms of competition.

Oh let us love our occupations, Bless the squire and his relations, Live upon our daily rations, And always know our proper stations.

Ignorance is not innocence but sin.

A man in armor is his armor’s slave.

White shall not neutralize the black, nor good Compensate bad in man, absolve him so: Life’s business being just the terrible choice.

The curious crime, the fine Felicity and flower of wickedness.

’Twas a thief said the last kind word to Christ: Christ took the kindness and forgave the theft.

That’s all we may expect of man, this side The grave: his good is—knowing he is bad.

One more devils’-triumph and sorrow for angels, One more wrong to man, one more insult to God!