Thomas Reid Quotes

An action is the perfection and publication of thought. A right action seems to fill the eye, and to be related to all nature.

You must do right before you feel good.

The real compensation of a right action is inherent in having performed it.

It is not enough to know what is good: you must be able to do it.

The imperative is to define what is right and do it.

His conduct still right with his argument wrong.

All effective actions require the passport of morality.

If one acts rightly and honestly, it is difficult to decide whether it is the effect of integrity or skill.

Common sense is seeing things as they are; and doing things as they ought to be.

Head knowledge is worthless, unless accompanied by submission of the will and right action.

The finest defense of character is correct action. Acquaint yourself with virtue, and you can expect proper treatment from those around you.

Do what's right, first. Don't sit around and wait for someone else to do the right thing first.

Do what is right, not what you think the high headquarters wants or what you think will make you look good.

An educated person must learn to act justly, beginning, first of all, with his thoughts, then later in his deeds. That is what it means to be educated.

Out of right thinking comes right practice. It is not true that it does not matter what a man believes. It is not true to say, as many say, that a man's beliefs do not matter, it is only his conduct which is of importance; no lasting right conduct grows out of wrong belief. If you think falsely, you will act mistakenly; if you think basely, your conduct will suit your thinking.

Knowing what's right doesn't mean much unless you do what's right.

You'll never go wrong in doing what is right.

You are mistaken, my friend, if you think that a man who is worth anything ought to spend his time weighing up the prospects of life and death. He has only one thing to consider in performing any action - that is, whether he is acting rightly or wrongly, like a good man or a bad one.

He deserves praise who does not what he may, but what he ought.

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

Never say anything that, down inside, you think is wrong.

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.

Respect for right conduct is felt by every body.

Civilization rests on the fact that most people do the right thing most of the time.

Action indeed is the sole medium of expression for ethics.