Joseph Addison Quotes

The truly great consider, first, how they may gain the approbation of God, and, secondly, that of their own conscience. Having done this, they would then willingly conciliate the good opinion of their fellow-men. But the truly little reverse the thing. The primary object with them is to secure the applause of their fellow-men; and having effected this, the approbation of God and their own conscience may follow on as they can.

A good man with a good conscience doesn't walk so fast.

A man’s first care should be to avoid the reproaches of his own heart.

There is no man but for his own interest hath an obligation to be honest. There may be sometimes temptations to be otherwise; but, all cards cast up, he shall find it the greatest ease, the highest profit, the best pleasure, the most safety, and the noblest fame, to hold the horns of this altar, which, in all assays, can in himself protect him.

I would be quite content if I myself could be rated fifty-fifty in merits and demerits. But one thing I can say for myself: I have had a clear conscience all my life. Please mark my words: I have made quite a few mistakes, and I have my own share of responsibility for some of the mistakes made by Comrade Mao Zedong. But it can be said that I made my mistake with good intentions. There is nobody who doesn't make mistakes.

He that loses his conscience has nothing left that is worth keeping. Therefore be sure you look to that, and in the next place look to your health; and if you have it, praise God and value it next to a good conscience.

Integrity means always doing what is right and good, regardless of the immediate consequences.

A man is not to aim at innocence, any more than he is to aim at hair, but he is to keep it.

You learn how to do good work by being honest with yourself.

The shortest and surest way to live with honor in the world, is to be in reality what we would appear to be, all human virtues increase and strengthen themselves by the practice and experience of them.

Conscious virtue is the only solid foundation of all happiness; for riches, power, rank, or whatever, in the common acceptation ofthe word, is supposed to constitute happiness, will never quiet, much less cure, the inward pangs of guilt.

In day-to-day life, you have stimulus to behave unethically, but in the long term, it always pays off to be ethical.

I think character is real important. And you know, and I think the public does.

I think anyone who doesn't say that they'd like people to think that they're doing the right thing is wrong. I mean, I'd like it to be that way, but I've never allowed it to influence my actions.

Your conscience is the measure of the honesty of your selfishness. Listen to it carefully.

You know, there's nothing you can do about your public image. It is what it is. I just try to do things honestly. I guess honesty is what you would call subjective: if you feel good about what you're doing, yourself, if you figure you're doing the right thing.

Remorse is virtue's root; its fair increase are fruits of innocence and blessedness.

Upon common theaters … the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own approbation. But upon the stage of life, while conscience claps, let the world hiss! …. If conscience disapproves, the loudest applause of the world are of little value.

The secret value of a conscience, that approves its own action, is lessened somewhat each time that it receives the reward of fame by displaying its deeds.

We should often blush for our very best actions, if the world did but see all the motives upon which they were done.

I have a very clear conscience.

My conscience is clean.

At the end of the day, if you feel like you're a good person, and your intentions are good, then that's all that matters.

Personally, I have never considered myself corrupt or seen the need to be so. People are judged as what they are perceived to be.

No man is straitly honest to any but himself and God.