Jean Genet Quotes

Let no man turn aside, ever so slightly, from the broad path of honour, on the plausible pretence that he is justified by the goodness of his end. All good ends can be worked out by good means.

A good moral character is the first essential. It is highly important not only to be learned but to be virtuous.

The best and only safe road to honor, glory, and true dignity is justice.

Keep alive the light of justice, And much that men say in blame will pass you by.

Worthy of honor is he who does no injustice, and more than twofold honor, if he not only does no injustice himself, but hinders others from doing any.

Success gives the character of honesty to some classes of wickedness.

This is the part of a great man, after he has maturely weighed all circumstances, to punish the guilty, to spare the many, and in every state of fortune not to depart from an upright, virtuous conduct.

If they are just, they are better than clever.

God gives manhood but one clew to success,--utter and exact justice; that he guarantees shall be always expediency.

But courage without conduct is the virtue of a robber, or a tyrant.

ATHENA: You wish to be called righteous rather than act right. [...] I say, wrong must not win by technicalities.

Thrice is he arm'd that hath his quarrel just, And he but naked, though lock'd up in steel, Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted.

Virtue is not malicious; wrong done her Is righted even when men grant they err.

Justice shines in very smoky homes, and honors the righteous; but the gold-spangled mansions where the hands are unclean she leaves with eyes averted.

I prefer to do right and get no thanks than to do wrong and receive no punishment.

Can a man who lies, cheats, steals, and sometimes does violence to other people be a man of honor? Kolabati looked into his eyes. "He can if he lies to liars, cheats cheaters, steals from thieves, and limits his violence to those who are violent.

A superior man in dealing with the world is not for anything or against anything. He follows righteousness as the standard.

Courage and wisdom are, indeed, rarities amongst men, but of all that is good, a just man it would seem is the most scarce.

It was time to pull my moral socks up and behave myself.

Justice is inseparable from truth in human life.

Morality has nothing to do with such a man as I am.

Acts which are essentially dishonourable must not be done; they would be justified only by calm contemplation of their correctness in abstract cases.

Practice justice in word and deed, and do not get in the habit of acting thoughtlessly about anything.

Integrity, honesty, and honor may not give immediate rewards or gratification, and they can be life-threatening (for example, being a whistle-blower or turning state's evidence). The absence of integrity, honesty, and honor do not always bring punishment or scorn, and can be life-aggrandizing (connivers and cheats often gain power and wealth). Therefore, morality must be its own reward.