Moral theory

Explore 54 quotes about Moral theory

A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community.

Aldo Leopold

A Sand County Almanac

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Topic

Moral theory Environmental protection

Author

Aldo Leopold

Source

A Sand County Almanac

Medium

Essay

Genre

Nature writing

Language

English

Time

1949 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Leopold, Aldo. "The Land Ethic." A Sand County Almanac: And Sketches Here and There. Oxford University Press, 1949.

I do not believe there is any sort of distinction between the real moral conditions of the people in and out of jail. One is just as good as the other.... I do not believe that people are in jail because they deserve to be. They are in jail simply because they cannot avoid it on account of circumstances which are entirely beyond their control and for which they are in no way responsible.

Clarence S. Darrow

More information about this quote

Topic

Prison Moral theory

Speaker

Clarence S. Darrow

Medium

Speech

Language

English

Time

1902 1900s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Darrow, Clarence. "Crime and Criminals." 1902, Cook County Jail, Chicago, IL, USA.

Current Citation

Darrow, Clarence. "Crime and Criminals." Attorney for the Damned: Clarence Darrow in the Courtroom, edited by Arthur Weinberg. University of Chicago Press, 2012.

I say that there is no such thing as moral responsibility for past acts, no such thing as real justice in punishing them, for the reason that human beings are not stationary existences, but changing, growing, incessantly progressive organisms, which in no two moments are the same. Therefore justice, whose only possible mode of proceeding is to punish in present time for what is done in past time, must always punish a person more or less similar to, but never identical with, the one who committed the offence, and therein must be no justice.

Edward Bellamy

More information about this quote

Topic

Moral theory Theory of punishment

Speaker

Dr. Heidenhoff

Author

Edward Bellamy

Source

Dr. Heidenhoff's Process

Medium

Novel

Language

English

Time

1880 1880s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Bellamy, Edward. Dr. Heidenhoff's Process. D. Appleton & Company, 1880, ch. 11.

No one ever suddenly became depraved.

Juvenal

Satires

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Topic

Depravity Moral theory Morality Character

Author

Juvenal

Source

Satires

Medium

Poem

Language

Latin

Time

127 120s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Juvenal. Satirae [Satires]. c. 127, satire 2.

Current Citation

Juvenal. The Satires, translated by Niall Rudd. Oxford University Press, 2008, satire 2.

Pardon one offense, and you encourage the commission of many.

Publilius Syrus

Sententiae

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More information about this quote

Topic

Theory of punishment Incentives Moral theory Legal theory

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.

Starvation, and not sin, is the parent of modern crime.

Oscar Wilde

Fortnightly Review

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Topic

Hunger Causes of crime Crime Moral theory Morality

Author

Oscar Wilde

Source

The Soul of Man Under Socialism Fortnightly Review

Medium

Essay Magazine

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1891 1890s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Wilde, Oscar. "The Soul of Man Under Socialism." Fortnightly Review. London: Chapman and Hall, Feb. 1891.

Current Citation

Wilde, Oscar. "The Soul of Man Under Socialism." The Soul of Man Under Socialism and Selected Critical Prose, edited by Linda Dowling. Penguin Classics, 2001.

Necessity knows no law except to prevail.

Publilius Syrus

Sententiae

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Topic

Necessity Desperation Moral theory

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.

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.

I know only that what is moral is what you feel good after and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.

Ernest Hemingway

Death in the Afternoon

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Topic

Moral theory

Author

Ernest Hemingway

Source

Death in the Afternoon

Language

English

Time

1932 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Hemingway, Ernest. Death in the Afternoon. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1932, ch. 1.

I hold that man is in the right who is most closely in league with the future.

Henrik Ibsen

More information about this quote

Topic

Progress Moral theory

Author

Henrik Ibsen

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1882 1880s 19th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Ibsen, Henrik. Letter to Georg Brandes. 3 Jan. 1882.

Those who are called upon to administer it must recognize as its leading principle the duty of shaping their measures so as to produce the greatest good to the greatest number.

William Henry Harrison

Inaugural Address of William Henry Harrison

On the U.S. Constitution.

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Topic

US Constitution Utilitarianism Moral theory Political theory

Speaker

William Henry Harrison

Source

Inaugural Address of William Henry Harrison Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1841 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Harrison, William Henry. "Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1841, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

The Lord says in the gospel; "I am the Truth." He does not say "I am custom." Therefore, when the truth is made manifest, custom must give way to truth.

Libosus of Vaga

Quoted in On Baptism, Against the Donatists, by Augustine of Hippo

More information about this quote

Topic

Truth Custom and convention Moral absolutism Moral theory Morality

Speaker

Libosus of Vaga

Author

Augustine of Hippo

Source

On Baptism, Against the Donatists

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Latin

Time

400 400s 5th century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Libosus of Vaga. Quoted in De Baptismo Contra Donatistas [On Baptism, Against the Donatists]. c. 400, bk. 3, ch. 6, sect. 9.

On all plausible theories, everyone’s well-being consists at least in part in being happy, and avoiding suffering.

Derek Parfit

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More information about this quote

Topic

Moral theory Happiness Suffering

Author

Derek Parfit

Source

On What Matters

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

English

Time

2011 2010s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Parfit, Derek. Reasons and Persons. Oxford University Press, 1984.

The part of our moral theory... That covers how we affect future generations... Is the most important part of our moral theory, since the next few centuries will be the most important in human history.

Derek Parfit

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More information about this quote

Topic

Moral theory Moral progress The future

Author

Derek Parfit

Source

Reasons and Persons

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

English

Time

1984 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Parfit, Derek. Reasons and Persons. Oxford University Press, 1984.