James A. Michener Quotes

All too rarely do I hear people asking just what it is that we've done to make so many children's hearts so hard, or what collectively we might do to right their moral compass - what values we must live by.

I feel no need for any other faith than my faith in human beings.

Humanism involves far more than the negation of supernaturalism. It requires an affirmative philosophy . . . translated into a life devoted to one's own improvement and the service of all mankind.

Humanity is lost because people have abandoned using their conscience as their compass.

Civilization is first of all a moral thing. Without truth, respect for duty, love of neighbor, and virtue, everything is destroyed. The morality of a society is alone the basis of civilization.

I think regardless of what your religion is or what you believe, you try to treat people in a positive way, and that's all you can do in life.

The four characteristics of humanism are curiosity, a free mind, belief in good taste, and belief in the human race.

I'm a humanist at heart: at the end of the day, we are all human beings.

I will always speak out when someone says that a principle or a rule or a tradition trumps people.

The moral values, ethical codes and laws that guide our choices in normal times are, if anything, even more important to help us navigate the confusing and disorienting time of a disaster.

You know, I really do have some morals. I do actually care about people. And I do have a political standpoint.

Since belief determines behavior, doesn't it make sense that we should be teaching ethical, moral values in every home and in every school in America?

I grew up doing a lot of traveling. My mom left home when she was 15 and traveled to 48 different countries and speaks six different languages. So I grew up with my eyes open. She raised me so that if my heart says something is wrong, I have to go help. What's right is right and what's wrong is wrong.

The sturdiest pillars of human morality are compassion and a sense of justice.

I think we should all have a responsibility not to affect other people in a negative way.

You can know a person is a good person or a bad person by who they are, not by what they look like.

Human morality is unthinkable without empathy.

I think with any characterization there's a point where you empathize, no matter how much of a deviance his or her actions may be from your understanding of humanity.

Seeking the good is not primarily about rules and commandments.

There are values of humanity, culture, beauty, community that may require deviations from the cold logic of market theory.

Therefore the great mediator of any community is human morality.

No human being or society ... ever did or ever will come to much unless their conduct was governed and guided by the love of some ethical ideal

My only wish is... to transform friends of God into friends of man.

In the service of the people we followed such a policy that socialism would not lose its human face.

Basic moral values must therefore first be internalized in the hearts and minds of its people before we can hope to enforce legislation reflecting these values