Moral relativism

Explore 14 quotes about Moral relativism

We are moving toward a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as for certain and which has as its highest goal one's own ego and one's own desires.

Pope Benedict XVI

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Topic

Decline of religion Moral relativism

Speaker

Pope Benedict XVI

Medium

Sermon

Language

Italian

Time

2005 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Cardinal Ratzinger, Joseph (later Pope Benedict XVI). "Homily of His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger." Conclave of cardinals, Mass. 18 Apr. 2005, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy.

What is morality in any given time or place? It is what the majority then and there happen to like, and immorality is what they dislike.

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Topic

Moral relativism Moral theory Morality

Speaker

Alfred North Whitehead

Language

English

Time

1941 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Whitehead, Alfred North. Dialogues of Alfred North Whitehead, edited by Lucien Price. David. R. Godine, 2008, ch. 22. Originally from dialogue with Lucien Price, 30 Aug. 1941.

He [the prince] holds to what is right when he can but knows how to do wrong when he must.

Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince

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Topic

Moral relativism Expediency Political theory

Author

Niccolo Machiavelli

Source

The Prince

Medium

Treatise

Genre

Political literature Philosophical literature

Language

Italian

Time

1532 1530s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Machiavelli, Niccolò. Il Principe [The Prince]. Rome: Antonio Blado d'Asola, 1532.

Current Citation

Machiavelli, Nicolò. The Prince, translated by Peter Bondanella. Oxford University Press, 2005.

For a good cause, wrongdoing is virtuous.

Publilius Syrus

Sententiae

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Topic

End justifies the means Wrongdoing Moral relativism

Author

Publilius Syrus

Source

Sententiae

Medium

Epigram

Language

Latin

Time

43 BC 40s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Publilius Syrus. Sententiae. c. 1st century BC.

Each race determines for itself what indecencies are. Nature knows no indecencies; man invents them.

Mark Twain

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Topic

Custom and convention Moral relativism Moral theory Morality

Author

Mark Twain

Source

Journals of Mark Twain

Medium

Personal journal

Language

English

Time

1896 1890s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Twain, Mark. Mark Twain's Notebook, edited by Albert Bigelow Paine. The Mark Twain Company, 1932, ch. 25. Originally from Notebook, c. 1896.

To arrive at a just estimate of a renowned man's character one must judge it by the standards of his time, not ours.

Mark Twain

Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc

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Topic

Historical criticism Custom and convention Moral relativism Morality

Author

Mark Twain

Source

Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc

Medium

Novel

Language

English

Time

1896 1890s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Twain, Mark, [published anonymously]. "Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc." Harper's Magazine. New York, Apr. 1895-Apr. 1896.

Current Citation

Twain, Mark. "Translator's Preface." Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc. Dover Publications, 2002.

Actions receive their tincture from the times,
And as they change, are virtues made or crimes.

Daniel Defoe

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Topic

Custom and convention Moral relativism Moral theory Morality

Author

Daniel Defoe

Source

A Hymn to the Pillory

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1703 1700s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Defoe, Daniel. A Hymn to the Pillory. London: 1703, I. 29.

The end justifies the means.

Hermann Busenbaum

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Topic

End justifies the means Justifications and rationales Moral relativism Moral theory Morality

Author

Hermann Busenbaum

Source

Medulla Theologiae Moralis

Genre

Religious literature Philosophical literature

Language

Latin

Time

1650 1650s 17th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Busenbaum, Hermann. Medulla Theologiae Moralis. 1650.

There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.

William Shakespeare

Hamlet

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Topic

Power of thought Thoughts Moral relativism Moral theory Morality

Speaker

Hamlet

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Hamlet

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 2, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 2.

Complete moral tolerance is possible only when men have become completely indifferent to each other-that is to say, when society is at an end.

James Fitzjames Stephen

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

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Topic

Tolerance Moral relativism

Author

James Fitzjames Stephen

Source

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1873 1870s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Stephen, James Fitzjames. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. London: Smith, Elder, & Company, 1873, ch. 4.

Current Citation

Stephen, James Fitzjames. Selected Writings of James Fitzjames Stephen: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, edited by Julia Stapleton. Oxford University Press, 2018, ch. 4.

Maybe there ain't no sin and there ain't no virtue, they's just what people does. Some things folks do is nice and some ain't so nice, and that's all any man's got a right to say.

The Grapes of Wrath

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More information about this quote

Topic

Judging others Moral relativism Morality

Speaker

Jim Casy

Actor

John Carradine

Source

The Grapes of Wrath

Medium

Film

Genre

Drama (film) Drama

Language

English

Time

1940 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Grapes of Wrath. Directed by John Ford. 20th Century Fox, 1940.

Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied,
And vice sometime by action dignified.

William Shakespeare

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Topic

Virtue and vice Moral relativism

Speaker

Friar Laurence

Author

William Shakespeare

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1597 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. London: John Danter, 1597, act 2, sc. 3.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Romeo and Juliet." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 3.

There exists a law, inborn of our hearts by natural intuition, if our lives are endangered by plots or violence or armed robbers or enemies any and every method of protecting ourselves is morally right.

Cicero

More information about this quote

Topic

Self-defense Moral relativism Moral theory Morality

Author

Cicero

Source

Pro Milone

Medium

Speech

Language

Latin

Time

52 BC 50s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. Pro Milone [In Defense of Milo]. c. 52 BC, sect. 10.

Current Citation

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. Pro Milone [For Milo], translated by D. H. Berry. Oxford University Press, 2009, sect. 10.

Food comes first, then morals.

Bertolt Brecht

More information about this quote

Topic

Moral relativism Moral principles Morality

Speaker

Macheath

Author

Bertolt Brecht

Source

The Threepenny Opera

Medium

Play

Language

German

Time

1928 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Brecht, Bertolt. Die Dreigroschenoper [The Threepenny Opera]. 31 Aug. 1928, Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, Berlin, Germany, act 2, sc. 6.

Current Citation

Brecht, Bertolt. The Threepenny Opera. Grove Press, 1994, act 2, sc. 6.