Sigrid Undset Quotes

It’s a good thing when you don’t dare do something if you don’t think it’s right. But it’s not good when you think something’s not right because you don’t dare do it.

Conscience gets a lot of credit that really belongs to cowardice.

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

I've lost a lot. I've lost money, and my reputation has taken a hit for taking the high road to protect my dignity, to protect children, and for other good causes. But I don't think there's ever too steep a price for doing the right thing.

I'm a good person. In most ways. But I'm beginning to think that being a good person in most ways doesn't count for anything very much, if you're a bad person in one way.

Do well and right and let the world sink.

He who is mistaken in an action which he sincerely believes to be right may be an enemy, but retains our esteem.

I do what I think is right.

Ethical is 'I'll wait and do what's right even in the hardest times and even if I have to give up gains to do it.'

You cannot do wrong and feel right. It is impossible!

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

Morality may consist solely in the courage of making a choice.

You just have to do what you know is right.

You ask yourself not if this or that is expedient, but if it is right.

I don't think any of us know how we would react until we were put in a situation where we have to do something bad or do something good. I think I'd like to believe I'd act like a decent human being, but I'm realistic to know I don't know.

Maybe I'll learn how, but the only thing I can do is turn down parts that would hurt my conscience.

Everybody is grappling with their own moral compass, and that needle, like any needle, can't just stick. It's always floating a little bit, and depending on where you're standing, it's hard to read.

I have only ever followed my conscience.

On the one hand, we may tell the truth, regardless of consequences, and on the other hand we may mellow it and sophisticate it to make it humane and tolerable.

A pure heart won't get us out of conflict and controversy. It may well be the very thing that gets us into it.

Conscience is a just but weak judge. Weakness leaves it powerless to execute its judgment.

Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains, rather than do an immoral act.

An injurious truth has no merit over an injurious lie. Neither should ever be uttered. The man who speaks an injurious truth, lest his soul be not saved if he do otherwise, should reflect that that sort of a soul is not strictly worth saving.

Those who really deserve praise are the people who, while human enough to enjoy power, nevertheless pay more attention to justice than they are compelled to do by their situation.

My work is to be honest. My work is to try to think clearly, then have the courage to make sure that what I say is the truth.