Henry Ward Beecher Quotes

A person of “good character” was one who acted in accordance with the expectations of his community

Moral character has now some influence in our elections, but not that place which it deserves. The law of public opinion excludes confirmed sots, and persons judicially convicted of high crimes and misdemeanors against the State; but it ought to render the election of all profane swearers, notorious Sabbath breakers, seducers, slanderers, prodigals and riotous persons, as well as the advocates of dueling, impracticable.

Nothing is more essential to the establishment of manners in a State than that all persons employed in places of power and trust must be men of unexceptionable characters.

Integrity means that if our private life were suddenly exposed, we'd have no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed. Integrity means that our outward life is consistent with our inner convictions.

Men of character are the conscience of the society to which they belong.

Civilization is that mode of conduct which points out to man the path of duty.

Experience shows us Wealth unchaperoned by Virtue is never an innocuous neighbor.

Oh, 'tis not my qualities they object to! 'Tis my lack of vice.

Honesty is nothin' compared to decency.

Some are able and humane men and some are low-grade individuals with the morals of a goat, the artistic integrity of a slot machine, and the manners of a floorwalker with delusions of grandeur.

Keep your hands clean and pure from the infamous vice of corruption, a vice so infamous that it degrades even the other vices thatmay accompany it. Accept no present whatever; let your character in that respect be transparent and without the least speck, for as avarice is the vilest and dirtiest vice in private, corruption is so in public life.

Concepts of integrity and heroism and honor are still important to the world today. Some people behave well, and some people behave badly.

Virtue is not a thing you can have by halves; it is or it is not.

A woman may be beautiful but have poor character. A man may be a business genius, making money left and right, but lack common courtesy, sensitivity, and compassion.

Justice is a moral virtue, merely because it has that tendency to the good of mankind, and indeed is nothing but an artificial invention to that purpose. The same may be said of allegiance, of the laws of nations, of modesty, and of good manners. All these are mere human contrivances for the interest of society.

The very essence of our civilization is that we give a paramount place to morality in all our affairs, public or private.

The thing that must be preserved in all situations whatever is the reputation of one's character.

Fie on possession, But if a man be vertuous withal.

Morality has nothing to do with such a man as I am.

Where reverence is, there is fear; for he who has a feeling of reverence and shame about the commission of any action, fears and is afraid of an ill reputation.

Purpose ... is held to be most closely connected with virtue, and to be a better token of our character than are even our acts.

A lady could not boast of her chastity who was never tempted.

Integrity is the light that shines from a disciplined conscience.

A just person knows how to secure his own reputation without blemishing another's by exposing his faults.

Those who live not by law would be justified by Custom: but, as common practice is the worst teacher that ever was, so the truth and goodness of things is not to be estimated by the entertainment and acceptance they find in the world.