Cornel West Quotes

Justice shines in very smoky homes, and honors the righteous; but the gold-spangled mansions where the hands are unclean she leaves with eyes averted.

Keep alive the light of justice, And much that men say in blame will pass you by.

There is no virtue so truly great and godlike as justice.

Those who really deserve praise are the people who, while human enough to enjoy power, nevertheless pay more attention to justice than they are compelled to do by their situation.

Few serve truth in truth because only few have the pure will to be just, and of those again very few have the strength to be just.

Successful people do what is right no matter how they feel, and by doing right, they feel good.

I prefer to do right and get no thanks than to do wrong and receive no punishment.

My future is righteousness.

Transcend political correctness and strive for human righteousness.

It could achieve a lot if everyone in Burma could stop saying something is good if it is not good, or say something is just if it is not just.

I can't tell a lie - not even when I hear one.

Knowledge without justice ought to be called cunning rather than wisdom.

It is better to be thought perverse than insincere.

The just man walks in his integrity

Men of most renowned virtue have by transgressing most truly kept the law.

When I see something wrong, I speak up.

In the area of social righteousness we cannot be right on the inside and not do it. We cannot! Of course we have people who pretend that they can, but it simply isn't true.

The best and only safe road to honor, glory, and true dignity is justice.

Taro taught me that people respect spirit, but even cowards don't respect cowards.

Worthy of honor is he who does no injustice, and more than twofold honor, if he not only does no injustice himself, but hinders others from doing any.

Indeed, one perfect resister is enough to win the battle of Right against Wrong.

I wish I could be honest and true, but truth as I see it is not something abstract, a pious generality---It is justice at work, righteous, demanding, disciplined, sincere and unswerving; otherwise, it is not, it cannot be truth at all.

This is the part of a great man, after he has maturely weighed all circumstances, to punish the guilty, to spare the many, and in every state of fortune not to depart from an upright, virtuous conduct.

Integrity means having the courage to do what is right, and what is aligned with your values, no matter the situation.

Always do what's right. That will gratify some and surprise the rest.