Charles Caleb Colton Quotes

A man's first care should be to avoid the reproaches of his own heart; his next, to escape the censures of the world: if the last interferes with the former, it ought to be entirely neglected; but otherwise there cannot be a greater satisfaction to an honest mind, than to see those approbations which it gives itself seconded by the applauses of the public.

With integrity you have nothing to fear, since you have nothing to hide. With integrity you will do the right thing, so you will have no guilt. With fear and guilt removed you are free to be and do your best.

It is difficult for me to regard anyone who obeys no moral principle in his conduct to be a religious man.

Virtue is nothing but an act of loving that which is to be beloved, and that act is prudence, from whence not to be removed by constraint is fortitude; not to be allured by enticements is temperance; not to be diverted by pride is justice.

Our probity is not less at the mercy of fortune than our property.

The rewards of integrity are immeasurable. One is the indescribable inner peace and serenity that come from knowing we are doing what is right; another is an absence of the guilt and anxiety that accompany sin. Another reward of integrity is the confidence it can give us in approaching God. When virtue garnishes our thoughts unceasingly, our confidence is strong in the presence of God.

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.

Character is in turn the enduring source of virtue. It stands by itself and excites admiration in others. It is not obedience to authority, and while it is often consistent with and reinforced by religious belief, it is not piety.

If the Coastal Republic had believed in the existence of virtue, it could at least have aspired to hypocrisy.

Indeed, we may go further and assert that anyone who does not delight in fine actions is not even a good man.

Prefer punishment to disgraceful gain; for the one is painful but once, but the other for one's whole life.

Never look for right in the other man, but never cease to be right yourself. We always look for justice in this world, but there is no such thing as justice. Jesus says — Never look for justice, but never cease to give it.

There is no honest man! not one, that can resist the attraction of gold!

... men of highest genius have been too frequently of extremely shaky morals.

Honest people will respect us for our merit: the public, for our luck.

Self-denial is not a virtue; it is only the effect of prudence on rascality.

[T]here is no truth more thoroughly established, than that there exists . . . an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness.

Success gives the character of honesty to some classes of wickedness.

He cannot be vertuous that is not rigorous.

There can be no question of holding forth on ethics. I have seen people behave badly with great morality and I note every day that integrity has no need of rules

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

Integrity is important in building relationships. And is the foundation upon which many other qualities for success are built, such as respect, dignity, and trust.

Conduct is the grand test of character. Words are one great evidence of the condition of the heart.

A man may be very sincere in good principles, without having good practice.