Ethical Paradox Quotes

The attempt to remove evil from the world by killing a thousand evil - doers, only adds to the evil in the world.

Whatever harm the evil may do, the harm done by the good is the most harmful harm.

In order to do good, you may have to engage in evil

The greatest minds are capable of the greatest vices as well as of the greatest virtues.

It's the old American Double Standard, ya know: Say one thing, do somethin' different. And of course this country is founded on the double standard. That's our history. We were founded on a very basic double standard: This country was founded by slave owners who wanted to be free.

Most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil.

The lesser evil is also evil.

Revolting means for good ends make the ends of themselves revolting.

Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied, And vice sometime's by action dignified

Bad people sometimes do good things, and good people do really bad things or do something the audience disagrees with.

The apprehension of the good Gives but the greater feeling to the worse.

Philosophy triumphs easily over past and future evils; but present evils triumph over philosophy.

Have we reached the ultimate age of absurdity where some people are held responsible for things that happened before they were born, while other people are not held responsible for what they are doing today?

I think the human race needs to think about killing. How much evil must we do to do good?

Morality without a sense of paradox is mean.

Can you honestly love a dishonest thing?

Every good quality runs into a defect; economy borders on avarice, the generous are not far from the prodigal, the brave man is close to the bully; he who is very pious is slightly sanctimonious; there are just as many vices to virtue as there are holes in the mantle of Diogenes.

The artist's duty to himself is a combination of immense responsibility and immense irresponsibility. I think those two interlock.

It is sometimes rational to do what is wrong, and sometimes irrational to do what is right

Evil borders upon good, and vices are confounded with virtues; as the report of good qualities is delightful to a well-disposed mind, so the relation of the contrary should not be offensive.

Half of the results of a good intentions are evil; half the results of an evil intention are good.

I would give my life for a man who is looking for the truth. But I would gladly kill a man who thinks that he has found the truth.

I have since often observed, how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind is, especially of youth ... that they are not ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed to repent; not ashamed of the action for which they ought justly to be esteemed fools, but are ashamed of the returning, which only can make them be esteemed wise men.

But, slavery is good for some people! ! ! As a good thing, slavery is strikingly peculiar, in this, that it is the only good thing which no man ever seeks the good of, for himself.

There are people who think that plunder loses all its immorality as soon as it becomes legal. Personally, I cannot imagine a more alarming situation.