Moral Contrast Quotes

Nobody can fall so low unless he has a great depth. If such a thing can happen to a man, it challenges his best and highest on the other side; that is to say, this depth corresponds to a potential height, and the blackest darkness to a hidden light.

How monotonously alike all the great tyrants and conquerors have been: how gloriously different are the saints.

What shocks the virtuous philosopher, delights the chameleon poet.

The ancients recommended us to sacrifice to the Graces, but Milton sacrificed to the Devil.

When Paul was taken in chains from his filthy Roman dungeon and beheaded at the order of the opulent madman Nero, two representatives of humanity faced off, one of the best and one of the worst. One lived for prosperity on earth, the other didn’t. One now lives in prosperity in heaven, the other doesn’t. We remember both men for what they truly were, which is why we name our sons Paul and our dogs Nero.

Good can imagine Evil; but Evil cannot imagine Good.

Evil had to manifest itself and fulfill its role, so that ultimately Good could prevail. [...] Evil needs to manifest itself, for them to understand the value of Good.

Devils are depicted with bats' wings and good angels with birds' wings, not because anyone holds that moral deterioration would be likely to turn feathers into membrane, but because most men like birds better than bats.

The wise and good are outnumbered a thousand to one by the brutal and stupid.

The contrast couldn't be clearer between the intentions and the hearts of those of us who care deeply about human rights and human liberty and those who kill. [on the terrorist bombings in London, July 7, 2005

As far as the stars are from the earth, and as different as fire is from water, so much do self-interest and integrity differ.

There has to be evil so that good can prove its purity above it.

We admire elephants in part because they demonstrate what we consider the finest human traits: empathy, self-awareness, and social intelligence. But the way we treat them puts on display the very worst of human behavior.

Men at most differ as Heaven and Earth, but women, worst and best, as Heaven and Hell.

Even honor and virtue make enemies, condemning, as they do, their opposites by too close a contrast.

The virtuous man contents himself with dreaming that which the wicked man does in actual life.

For good is simple, evil manifold.

Good men study to spiritualize their bodies; bad men to incarnate their souls.

While intellectually you are giants, morally you are pygmies.

The world needed a little Evil, so Good had something to compare itself to, but you couldn't let it think it had the right-of-way on the road and an invitation to dinner.

In the military, they give medals for people who are willing to sacrifice themselves so that others may survive. In business, we give bonuses to people who sacrifice others.

A beautiful death is for people who have lived like animals to die like angels.

And when she was good she was very very good. But when she was bad she was horrid.

I'm an angel compared to some of my friends.