Oliver Goldsmith Quotes

The balance of private good and general welfare is at the bottom of civilized morals; but the morals of the Heroic Age are founded on individuality, and on nothing else.

I pray to God that I shall not live one hour after I have thought of using deception.

I've always tried to keep my integrity and keep my autonomy.

We all live in the protection of certain cowardices which we call our principles.

Moral result can only be produced by moral restraints.

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.

I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year's fashions, even though I long ago came to the conclusion that I was not a political person and could have no comfortable place in any political group.

We should not allow our personal values to erode, even if others think we are peculiar.

Justness exists, even if few people exist who feel it.

When a company or an individual compromises one time, whether it's on price or principle, the next compromise is right around the corner.

If you're an actor, always be true to your character. If you are not an actor, have character and always be true to yourself.

Ordinary human laws are the means - however imperfect - by which we express our understanding of the enduring moral law.

World hinges on moral foundations. God has made it so! God has made the universe to be based on a moral law. So long as man disobeys it he is revolting against God. That’s what we need in the world today - people who will stand for right and goodness.

Because you can poke someone's eye out legally doesn't mean you should and that it's right. The Bible teaches us a more perfect justice.

No man is really honest; none of us is above the influence of gain.

Justice is the constant and eternal purpose that renders to each his due.

The view that honesty is something, and even a virtue, belongs, it is true, to those private opinions which are forbidden in this age of public opinions.

Corruption wins not more than honesty. Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace, To silence envious tongues.

Algy, you always adopt a strictly immoral attitude towards life. You are not quite old enough to do that.

Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.

It's your life - but only if you make it so. The standards by which you live must be your own standards, your own values, your own convictions in regard to what is right and wrong, what is true and false, what is important and what is trivial. When you adopt the standards and the values of someone else . . . you surrender your own integrity. You become, to the extent of your surrender, less of a human being.

Morality is always higher than law and we cannot forget this ever.

The only way to care for the disadvantaged - is to disadvantage yourself -which is guaranteed to turn out for your advantage.

In this world laws are written for the lofty aim of "the common good" and then acted out in life on the basis of the common greed.

Personal integrity implies such trustworthiness and incorruptibility that we are incapable of being false to a trust or covenant.