Roy Hattersley Quotes

I'm basically a 'do unto others' type person. I don't have any religious feelings because I'm an atheist, but I live my life like there's a God. And if there was he'd probably love me.

Religion without morality is a superstition and a curse, and morality without religion is impossible.

I should not deal with things that aren't founded on ethical principles, because that's not who I am as a human being.

In today's society, looking good and feeling good often trumps doing good and being good. And some people don't know the difference anymore.

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

The whole history of man is continuous proof of the maxim that to divest one's methods of ethical concepts means to sink into the depths of utter demoralization.

All must admit that the reception of the teachings of Christ results in the purest patriotism, in the most scrupulous fidelity to public trust, and in the best type of citizenship.

The way you are with others every day, regardless of their status, is the true test of faith.

My personal attitude toward atheists is the same attitude that I have toward Christians, and would be governed by a very orthodox text: "By their fruits shall ye know them." I wouldn't judge a man by the presuppositions of his life, but only by the fruits of his life. And the fruits - the relevant fruits - are, I'd say, a sense of charity, a sense of proportion, a sense of justice. And whether the man is an atheist or a Christian, I would judge him by his fruits, and I have therefore many agnostic friends.

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.

How you treat the helpless is the real test of morality. Lots of people are flunking that test big time.

Human dignity can be achieved only in the field of ethics, and ethical achievement is measured by the degree in which our actions are governed by compassion and love, not by greed and aggressiveness.

At the end of the day, the Lord knows I have no malice in my heart. But I've got tattoos, and I still fornicate.

A humanitarian is always a hypocrite.

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.

Integrity is a life where your beliefs and intentions are aligned with your words and actions.

I'd be more willing to accept religion, even if I didn't believe it, if I thought it made people nicer to each other but I don't think it does.

No matter what is the environment around you, it is always possible to maintain your brand of integrity

The measure of any man's virtue is what he would do, if he had neither the laws nor public opinion, nor even his own prejudices, to control him.

You can be a good human being and just be shrewd.

Morality is the Science of harmonious relations between intelligent beings.

Without integrity and conscience we lose our freedom.

We're all hypocrites. We all say one thing and do another. But why don't we try to do what we say more than what we don't?

Those who are most moral are farthest from the problem.

A perfect man would never act from a sense of duty; he’d always want the right thing more than the wrong one. Duty is only a substitute for love (of God and of other people) like a crutch which is a substitute for a leg. Most of us need the crutch at times; but of course it is idiotic to use the crutch when our own legs (our own loves, tastes, habits etc.) can do the journey on their own.