Dick Francis Quotes

We are supposed to be on the side of goodness in the sense that we need it, not that we are it.

When goodness is lost, it is replaced by morality.

Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent.

The only word for goodness is goodness, and it is not enough.

Goodness without wisdom always accomplishes evil.

All the devils respect virtue.

Is not virtue a negation of becoming?

All the gold upon the earth and all the gold beneath it, does not compensate for lack of virtue.

I have seen men incapable of the sciences, but never any incapable of virtue.

If any man should conceive certain things as being really good, such as prudence, temperance, justice, fortitude, he would not after having first conceived these endure to listen to anything which should not be in harmony with what is really good.

To be good and disagreeable is high treason against the royalty of virtue.

But courage without conduct is the virtue of a robber, or a tyrant.

Evil is not interesting. What is it, chopping off someone's head? We used to do that as kids, you know, you tear up paper dolls and stuff. I know everyone's done it in the history of the world, but maybe everybody was dumb and they were just looking for something interesting to do. What's really interesting and hard is being good.

It must be a good thing to be good or ivrybody wudden't be pretendin' he was.

Of all the things of a man's soul which he has within him, justice is the greatest good and injustice the greatest evil.

You can’t reach good ends through evil means, because the means represent the seed and the end represents the tree.

After all, why be good? How many will actually believe it of us?

Without virtue, happiness cannot be.

Virtue is not an end in itself. Virtue is not its own reward or sacrificial fodder for the reward of evil. Life is the reward of virtue-and happiness is the goal and the reward of life.

Courage and wisdom are, indeed, rarities amongst men, but of all that is good, a just man it would seem is the most scarce.

A good man will certainly also possess courage; but a brave man is not necessarily good.

To be good and to do good-that is the whole of religion.

Virture offers the only path in this life that leads to tranquility.

It is much more intelligent, more practical, to be good rather than evil.

But goodness alone is never enough. A hard, cold wisdom is required for goodness to accomplish good. Goodness without wisdom always accomplishes evil.