If humanism were right in declaring that man is born to be happy, he would not be born to die. Since his body is doomed to die, his task on earth evidently must be of a more spiritual nature. It cannot the unrestrained enjoyment of everyday life. It cannot be the search for the best ways to obtain material goods and then cheerfully get the most out of them. It has to be the fulfillment of a permanent, earnest duty so that one's life journey may become an experience of moral growth, so that one may leave life a better human being than one started it. It is imperative to review the table of widespread human values. Its present incorrectness is astounding. It is not possible that assessment of the President's performance be reduced to the question of how much money one makes or of unlimited availability of gasoline. Only voluntary, inspired self-restraint can raise man above the world stream of materialism.
Aleksandr SolzhenitsynTag: morality humanism god-s-grace moral-growth
It is vain to expect virtue from women till they are in some degree independent of men.
Mary WollstonecraftTag: empowerment gender women morality freedom virtue feminism self-determination misogyny hypocrisy independence double-standards social-norms
Immorality, no less than morality, has at all times found support in religion.
Sigmund FreudTag: morality support immorality
Sex: In America an obsession. In other parts of the world a fact.
Marlene DietrichTag: sexuality morality obsession puritanism social-norms inhibitions prudishness
It is often argued that religion is valuable because it makes men good, but even if this were true it would not be a proof that religion is true. That would be an extension of pragmatism beyond endurance. Santa Claus makes children good in precisely the same way, and yet no one would argue seriously that the fact proves his existence. The defense of religion is full of such logical imbecilities. The theologians, taking one with another, are adept logicians, but every now and then they have to resort to sophistries so obvious that their whole case takes on an air of the ridiculous. Even the most logical religion starts out with patently false assumptions. It is often argued in support of this or that one that men are so devoted to it that they are willing to die for it. That, of course, is as silly as the Santa Claus proof. Other men are just as devoted to manifestly false religions, and just as willing to die for them. Every theologian spends a large part of his time and energy trying to prove that religions for which multitudes of honest men have fought and died are false, wicked, and against God.
H.L. MenckenTag: humor truth honesty existence energy morality death atheism endurance martyr wicked logic santa-claus assumptions devotion argument sacrifice false value proof ridiculous support santa pragmatism imbecility sophistry logicians theologians
Some prices are just too high, no matter how much you may want the prize. The one thing you can't trade for your heart's desire is your heart.
Lois McMaster BujoldTag: morality
Fearlessness is the first requisite of spirituality. Cowards can never be moral.
Mahatma GandhiTag: morality bravery fearlessness
Never support two weaknesses at the same time. It's your combination sinners - your lecherous liars and your miserly drunkards - who dishonor the vices and bring them into bad repute.
Thornton WilderTag: morality virtue sinners vice
Each man must grant himself the emotions that he needs and the morality that suits him.
Remy de GourmontDo not act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you live, while it is in your power, be good.
Marcus AureliusTag: morality integrity goodness be-good
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