Leland Stanford Quotes

Good character consists of recognizing the selfishness that inheres in each of us and trying to balance it against the altruism to which we should all aspire. It is a difficult balance to strike, but no definition of goodness can be complete without it.

Be virtuous and you will be vicious.

Be just before you are generous.

I always kind of thought I want to be a good person, I want to be right to my fellow men and love them like we're supposed to.

I follow three rules: Do the right thing, do the best you can, and always show people you care.

I would say I'm a nice person, and I take pride in the fact that I treat everyone really well, so there's no reason for anyone to ever come at me because I only want the best for everybody else.

Human nature must have come much nearer perfection than it is now, or will be in many generations, to exclude from such a control prejudice, selfishness, ambition, and injustice.

My father never was and isn't a mean man. You know, he never was ruthless. And he succeeded in life without sticking it to anybody. And that's a great example for a man, a strong man, a man's man, to give to his children. You can succeed, you can be successful, without walking over somebody.

The sturdiest pillars of human morality are compassion and a sense of justice.

A little anger is a good thing if it isn't on your own behalf, if it's for others deserving of your anger, your empathy.

I admire people who just do the right thing, not looking to screw people up. I love all people.

It is straightforward for me to be ethical, responsible, and kind-hearted because I have the resources to support that.

The measure of a decent human being is how he or she treats the defenseless.

No one can build his happiness at the expense of the misery of others

Should our party by led by someone who boasts of a hard heart?

I wanted somebody who had a heart and a soul, because Joe Carroll is soulless. There was nothing in there. He was a vacuum of a man.

There is a minimum requirement of morality, of moral compass, of decency, of moral empathy. And if you are incapable of meeting that minimum requirement, you can't even talk to me about policy.

He is good and wise who always speaks the truth, acts on the dictates of virtue, and tries to make others good and happy.

To refrain from all injustice renders us also humane.

I'm a basically decent person.

In school you teach us not to fight with others, to work things out, to respect others, to clean up our mess, not to hurt other creatures, to share, not be greedy. Then why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do? You grownups say you love us, but I challenge you, please, to make your actions reflect your words.

It's very important to be just to other people. It takes years and years of living to learn that injustice against oneself is always unimportant.

Love is more just than justice.

The best way is to say that as a Christian for me the essence of Christian faith is that you treat others as if you wish to be treated.

Because a human being is endowed with empathy, he violates the natural order if he does not reach out to those who need care. Responding to this empathy, one is in harmony with the order of things, with dharma; otherwise, one is not.