ethics Quotes

Arrogance on the part of the meritorious is even more offensive to us than the arrogance of those without merit: for merit itself is offensive.

Morality is the herd-instinct in the individual.

Yes, there is a terrible moral in 'Dorian Gray' - a moral which the prurient will not be able to find in it, but it will be revealed to all whose minds are healthy. Is this an artistic error? I fear it is. It is the only error in the book.

If a work of art is rich and vital and complete, those who have artistic instincts will see its beauty, and those to whom ethics appeal more strongly than aesthetics will see its moral lesson. It will fill the cowardly with terror, and the unclean will see in it their own shame.

Morality is simply the attitude we adopt towards people whom we personally dislike.

Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault.

I am an Epicurean. I consider the genuine (not the imputed) doctrines of Epicurus as containing everything rational in moral philosophy which Greek and Roman leave to us.

Fear follows crime and is its punishment.

Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.

The sovereign is called a tyrant who knows no laws but his caprice.