Moral Action Quotes

A categorical imperative would be one which represented an action as objectively necessary in itself, without reference to any other purpose.

Active Evil is better than Passive Good.

Even a purely moral act that has no hope of any immediate and visible political effect can gradually and indirectly, over time, gain in political significance.

Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain.

There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men.

Who sweeps a room, as for Thy laws, makes that and the action fine.

Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone.

When people want to inspire you to turn against some group of people, they'll often use empathy. When Obama wanted to bomb Syria, he drew our attention to the victims of chemical warfare. And in both of the Iraq wars, politicians said, "Look at the horrific things that are happening." I'm not a pacifist. I think the suffering of innocent people can be a catalyst for moral action. But empathy puts too much weight on the scale in favor of war. Empathy can really lead to violence.

A good painting should be the equivalent of a good deed.

An evil deed is better left undone, for a man repents of it afterwards; a good deed is better done, for having done it, one does not repent.

It still remains true that no justification of virtue will enable a man to be virtuous.

I do the right thing on purpose. I don't do it by accident.

Head knowledge is worthless, unless accompanied by submission of the will and right action.

When you confer a benefit on those worthy of it, you confer a favor on all.

Every day we act in ways that reflect our ethical judgements.

Cinema is my religion. It is a way to make people sensitive, through emotions. To make them feel, experience empathy. People are touched and act ethically when they are emotionally touched.

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

The ultimate test of what a truth means is the conduct it dictates or inspires.

The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.

The only way to show a true respect for God is to act morally while ignoring God’s existence.

The first step to be taken by everyone who wishes to act morally is to decide not to act according to the general customs and doings of his fellow-men.

Virtue will catch as well as vice by contact; and the public stock of honest manly principle will daily accumulate. We are not too nicely to scrutinize motives as long as action is irreproachable. It is enough (and for a worthy man perhaps too much) to deal out its infamy to convicted guilt and declared apostasy.

The ultimate notion of right is that which tends to the universal good; and when one's acting in a certain manner has this tendency he has a right thus to act.

An action, to have moral worth, must be done from duty.

May we do good everywhere as we have opportunity, and results will not be wanting!