Mary Renault Quotes

I do not believe we can blame genetics for adultery, homosexuality, dishonesty and other character flaws.

Modesty in human beings is praised because it is not a matter of nature, but of will.

Man's nature is evil; goodness is the result of conscious activity.

For he that does good, having the unlimited power to do evil, deserves praise not only for the good which he performs, but for the evil which he forbears.

Human nature is not of itself vicious.

I believe it is universally understood and acknowledged that all men will ever act correctly, unless they have a motive to do otherwise.

No one can be good for long if goodness is not in demand.

If I wanted to do wrong, I could not.

Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.

We become just by performing just action, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave action.

People must not think that all bad in man which is unleashed, the moment you impose censorship disappears from man.

Laws control the lesser man. Right conduct controls the greater one.

All laws which can be broken without any injury to another, are counted but a laughing-stock, and are so far from bridling the desires and lusts of men, that on the contrary they stimulate them.

I believe that people generally want to be what we call good. They want to cooperate with people. They don't want to steal; they don't want to cheat. But everybody has a price. Everybody has an incentive.

If I had walked into a dry cleaning store, and I had looked over, and the register drawer was open with money inside, I wouldn't have taken it.

I'm not sure anything makes you an outright good person or bad person - that we're all capable of doing good or bad things. And if you want to know how much good you can do, and how much hurt you can do, just ask somebody you love.

I think we're innately good. But it doesn't mean we're gonna do good all the time. It means you have to strive.

Human beings have a vested interest in being trustworthy.

In the common run of mankind, for one that is wise and good you find ten of a contrary character.

Our actions are neither so good nor so evil as our impulses.

Integrity in the Moment of Choice: Quality of life depends on what happens in the space between stimulus and response.

The Anglo-Saxon conscience does not prevent the Anglo-Saxon from sinning, it merely prevents him from enjoying his sin.

There is evil in all of us, and it is the mark of a man how he defies the evil within.

It is not because men's desires are strong that they act ill; it is because their consciences are weak.

Hard times always uncover the basic goodness and evil of the day.