George IV Quotes

Motives are often more important than actions

It is almost impossible to imagine that any one could be so insensible to the high morality of Mr. Mill's character as to suggest to him any course of conduct that was not entirely upright and consistent.

A man is not good or bad for one action.

His conduct still right with his argument wrong.

Too great a preoccupation with motives (especially one's own motive) is liable to lead to too little concern for consequences.

Remember, we can judge better by the conduct of people towards others than by their manner towards ourselves.

I'm not saying you did the wrong thing. I'm not even saying it wasn't something I'd thought of doing, myself. But even if it was the just thing to do, or the fitting thing, it still wasn't the right thing.

He might be a man without character, but she was a woman without courage. Of the two, which was worse?

A man's intentions should be allowed in some respects to plead for his actions.

...guilt leads to righteous action, but rarely is it the right action.

Morality, when vigorously alive, sees farther than intellect, and provides unconsciously for intellectual difficulties.

You would not call a man humane for ceasing to set mousetraps if he did so because he believed there were no mice in the house.

I want in all cases to do right.

Ambition without principle never was long under the guidance of good sense.

never judge anyone by their appearance, or the car they drive, or the house they live in, or even by the words they say. judge people by their actions. that's how you know whether they're bad or good." - perfect Summer

Ninety-five percent of people who walk the earth are simply inert. One percent are saints, and one percent are assholes. The other three percent are people who do what they say they can do.

I never condemn wrongdoing in any area.

My personal attitude toward atheists is the same attitude that I have toward Christians, and would be governed by a very orthodox text: "By their fruits shall ye know them."

To know the good from the bad, measure the heart. Actions reveal the true coloring of one's heart, not their intentions.

It is easy to be just when our own inclinations do not oppose it.

Do what is right, not what you think the high headquarters wants or what you think will make you look good.

Whether the man is an atheist or a Christian, I would judge him by his fruits, and I have therefore many agnostic friends.

A sense of shame is not a bad moral compass.

Tis e'er the wont of simple folk to prize the deed and o'erlook the motive, and of learned folk to discount the deed and lay open the soul of the doer.

Intention, good or bad, is not enough.