Franz Grillparzer Quotes

Morality binds and blinds.

An action is the perfection and publication of thought. A right action seems to fill the eye, and to be related to all nature.

In ethics, prudence is not an important virtue, but in the world it is almost everything.

Ethics is a code of values which guide our choices and actions and determine the purpose and course of our lives.

He who would govern his actions by the laws of virtue must regulate his thoughts by those of reason.

Morality is the Science of harmonious relations between intelligent beings.

Sensibility appears to me to be neither good nor evil in itself, but in its application. Under the influence of Christian principle, it makes saints and martyrs; ill-directed, or uncontrolled, it is a snare, and the source of every temptation; besides, as people cannot get it if it is not given them, to descant on it seems to me as idle as to recommend people to have black eyes or fair complexions.

The end does not justify the means. No one's rights can be secured by the violation of the rights of others.

When your principles seem to be demanding suicide, clearly it's time to check your premises

After all, why be good? How many will actually believe it of us?

Every man prefers virtue, when there is not some strong incitement to transgress its precepts.

Morality is always the product of terror; its chains and strait-waistcoats are fashioned by those who dare not trust others, because they dare not trust themselves, to walk in liberty.

...virtue is not merely a state in conformity with the right principle, but one that implies the right principle; and the right principle in moral conduct is prudence.

The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions.

The characteristic feature of all ethics is to consider human life as a game that can be won or lost and to teach man the means of winning.

It is much more intelligent, more practical, to be good rather than evil.

It's better to die doing good than to live doing evil.

Goodness without wisdom always accomplishes evil.

The whole speculation about morality is an effort to find a way of living which men who live it will instinctively feel is good.

Man can sin against nature in two ways. First, when he sins against his specific rational nature, acting contrary to reason. In this sense, we can say that every sin is a sin against man's nature, because it is against man's right reason.

Virtue is nothing but an act of loving that which is to be beloved, and that act is prudence, from whence not to be removed by constraint is fortitude; not to be allured by enticements is temperance; not to be diverted by pride is justice.

There are people who think that honesty is always the best policy. This is a superstition. There are times when the appearance of it is worth six of it.

Morality's not practical. Morality's a gesture. A complicated gesture learnt from books.

As our own species is in the process of proving, one cannot have superior science and inferior morals. The combination is unstable and self-destroying.

That which is selfish is immoral, and that which is unselfish is moral.