Julian Baggini Quotes

To be moral involves taking a position towards that matrix, thinking critically about what is taken for granted.

It’s a good thing when you don’t dare do something if you don’t think it’s right. But it’s not good when you think something’s not right because you don’t dare do it.

Is there anybody here who thinks that following the orders takes away the blame Is there anybody here who wouldn't mind a murder by another name?

In the real world in which we live, you always have to choose between evils. And in choosing between evils, you have to have moral criteria for how to make those choices.

You cannot do wrong and feel right. It is impossible!

No one who errs unwillingly is evil.

You cannot be at home with something that you feel that is wrong, is not right.

To be a fully functioning moral agent, one cannot passively accept moral principles handed down by fiat. Moral principles require moral reasoning.

To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.

The intellect has only one failing, which, to be sure, is a very considerable one. It has no conscience.

Conscience is a just but weak judge. Weakness leaves it powerless to execute its judgment.

Some make light of decisions, arguing that all possible decisions will occur. In such a world, how could one be responsible for his actions? Others hold that each decision must be considered and committed to, that without commitment there is chaos. Such people are content to live in contradictory worlds, so long as they know the reason for each.

Because it's possible to do, and you have the right to do it, doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.

If you replace a soldier with a machine, you take away the possibility of the soldier or the policeman to not do something the state asks of him. He may think it's unethical to do it. A machine doesn't have that critical perspective.

The whole world is incapable of judging either right or wrong. but it is certain that actionless action can judge both right and wrong.

Self-respecting men and women think about the consequences of their actions-and are willing to take responsibility for them.

Tis well when we dare not do a thing we think is not good and fair; but not so well when we think a thing not good and fair because we dare not do it.

You are wrong, sir, if you think that a man who is any good at all should take into account the risk of life or death; he should look to this only in his actions, whether what he does is right or wrong, whether he is acting like a good or a bad man.

… you were so worried about legal and illegal that you never stopped to think about whether it was right or wrong.

Cease being intimidated by the argument that a right action is impossible because it does not yield maximum profits, or that a wrong action is to be condoned because it pays.

Conscience, man's moral medicine chest.

We become responsible for the actions of others the instant we become conscious of what they are doing wrong and fail to remind them of what is right.

When facing a dilemma, choose the more morally demanding alternative.

This inability to think created the possibility for many ordinary men to commit evil deeds on a gigantic scale, the like of which had never been seen before. The manifestation of the wind of thought is not knowledge but the ability to tell right from wrong, beautiful from ugly. And I hope that thinking gives people the strength to prevent catastrophes in these rare moments when the chips are down.

We must do right and risk the consequences.