Karel Capek Quotes

Don’t put yourself in a situation where you will not be able to achieve your ideals without violating them.

Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the highroad to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction.

It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them.

Know the difference between principles based on right or wrong vs. principles based on personal gain, and consider the basis of your own principles.

Power focuses on self-preservation; principle focuses on making ideas successful.

My power for good, whatever it may, would be gone if I didn’t try to live up to the doctrines I have tried to preach.

The word virtue is as useful to self-interest as the vices.

Everyone assumes I practise all of my own laws but I don't. I think anybody who did would be a horrible ugly person to be around.

We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously ceases to be honesty.

When the sacredness of one's word is matched in the attributes of his character throughout, all that constitutes a man, then we find that there is something in a man's life greater than his occupation or his achievements; grander than acquisition or wealth; higher than genius; more enduring than fame.

Character is greater than talent, genius, fame, money, friends - there is nothing to compare with it. A man may have all these and yet remain comparatively useless - be unhappy - and die a bankrupt in soul.

Take care that all your offerings be free, and of your own, that has cost you something; so that ye may not offer of that which is another man's, or that which ye are entrusted withal, and not your own.

A man has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so.

People who truly understand what is meant by self-reliance know they must live their lives by ethics rather than rules.

A man has to learn that he cannot command things, but that he can command himself; that he cannot coerce the wills of others, but that he can mold and master his own will: and things serve him who serves Truth; people seek guidance of him who is master of himself.

Plato said that virtue has no master. If a person does not honor this principle and rejoice in it, but is purchasable for money, he creates many masters for himself.

No man can produce great things who is not thoroughly sincere in dealing with himself.

True freedom is where an individual's thoughts and actions are in alignment with that which is true, correct, and of honor - no matter the personal price.

I detest politics, to be honest with you. It's a cesspool. And I don't think I would fare well in that cesspool because I don't believe in political correctness and I certainly don't believe in dishonesty.

I try not to do anything I don't like, so I stay motivated pretty easily.

Maybe a thing that you do not like is really in your interest. It is possible that a thing that you may desire may be against your interest.

It is a monstrous thing that I will say, but I will say it all the same: I find in many things more restraint and order in my morals than in my opinions, and my lust less depraved than my reason.

I'm never going to take the view that I should say whatever I need to say in order to achieve something. Because that implies a level of dishonesty.

I strongly believe in my own rights and wrongs and impose them on myself and my family.

Is it not enough to know the evil to shun it? If not, we should be sincere enough to admit that we love evil too well to give it up.