Joseph Addison Quotes

The superior man does what is proper to the station in which he is; he does not desire to go beyond this.

Observe decorum, and it will open a path to morality.

Morality is the herd-instinct in the individual.

Hypocrisy is an homage that vice renders to virtue.

Decency cannot be discussed without indecency!

Should you be unfortunate enough to have vices, you may, to a certain degree, even dignify them by a strict observance of decorum;at least they will lose something of their natural turpitude.

Virtue and decency are so nearly related that it is difficult to separate them from each other but in our imagination.

If throughout your life you abstain from murder, theft, fornication, perjury, blasphemy, and disrespect toward your parents, church, and your king, you are conventionally held to deserve moral admiration even if you have never done a single kind, generous or useful action. This very inadequate notion of virtue is an outcome of taboo morality, and has done untold harm.

There can be no high civility without a deep morality, though it may not always call itself by that name.

There'd be a lot less scandal if people didn't idealize sin and pose as sinners.

A person of “good character” was one who acted in accordance with the expectations of his community

The world is ashamed of being virtuous.

Think how much better it is to criticize conventional customs if you yourself live up to them, scrupulously.

The great difficulty about keeping the Ten Commandments is that no man can keep them and be a gentleman.

I've got confidence that most people in America still have a decent sense of manners, propriety, morality.

Debased men, but they all had something in common: They showed a keen regard for virtue, and tried to dress themselves in that costume. Hypocrisy, for all its bad reputation, at least showed a decent respect for goodness.

As to modesty and decency, if we are simians we have done well, considering: but if we are something else-fallen angels-we have indeed fallen far.

I shall produce nothing that will offend the proprieties, whether applied to children or grownups. My pictures are turned out with clean hands and, therefore, with a clear conscience which, like virtue, is its own reward.

We must watch over our modesty in the presence of those who cannot understand its grounds.

Nothing in our times has become so unattractive as virtue.

Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety.

In England the only homage which they pay to Virtue - is hypocrisy.

Modesty is not only an ornament, but also a guard to virtue.

I think I'm expected to behave in a certain manner.

It is difficult for me to regard anyone who obeys no moral principle in his conduct to be a religious man.