Joseph Brodsky Quotes

He who is mistaken in an action which he sincerely believes to be right may be an enemy, but retains our esteem.

Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it.

If the Soviet Government orders me to act against my conscience, I do not obey …. Conscience is above the law. No law which is against the conscience can bind.

Don't ever silence your morality to be a part of anything.

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

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

The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous.

Greatness is not manifested by unlimited pragmatism, which places such a high premium on the end justifying any means and any methods.

Ethical is 'I'll wait and do what's right even in the hardest times and even if I have to give up gains to do it.'

The point never to lose sight of is to be guided by the correct thing, as you see it. It's the only way to approach such profound matters and retain your integrity.

Let not a man do what his sense of right bids him not to do, nor desire what it forbids him to desire. This is sufficient. The skillful artist will not alter his measures for the sake of a stupid workman.

Every judgement of conscience, be it right or wrong, be it about things evil in themselves or morally indifferent, is obligatory, in such wise that he who acts against his conscience always sins.

There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.

Maybe I'll learn how, but the only thing I can do is turn down parts that would hurt my conscience.

To me, integrity means always doing what is right and good, regardless of the immediate consequences. It means being righteous from the very depth of our soul, not only in our actions but, more importantly, in our thoughts and in our hearts.

A conscientious man ought not to regard what may happen to him in this world.

In matters of conscience, the law of majority has no place.

The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right.

I have a clean conscience and ideals that I am willing to defend.

My success at living a moral life is pretty terrible, but I still aspire to do it! I identify with the Johnny Cash thing that trying to live a good life and be a good person are not necessarily the same thing!

Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains, rather than do an immoral act.

Sir, what does it matter whom I serve, so long as I am right?

I have to do what's right.

We are all ready to be savage in some cause. The difference between a good man and a bad one is the choice of the cause.

A man has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so.