Meaningful Quotes

On Right Living

These quotes come from many sources, old and new. Many are the words of religious sages, because religions are of necessity greatly involved with issues of right and wrong. These words, more than any others, have guided me throughout my life. Although I may not always live up to them, they remain my guide and my ideal.

In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up. [background]
- Rev. Martin Niemoller

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.
- Edmund Burke

What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man.
- Hillel

Lord Christ, you have no body on earth but ours, no hands but ours, no feet but ours. Ours are the eyes through which your compassion must look out on the world. Ours are the feet by which you may still go about doing good. Ours are the hands with which you bless people now.
- St. Teresa of Avila

If you are neutral toward injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.
- Bishop Desmond Tutu

If not you, then who? If not now, then when?
- Hillel

To see what is right and not to do it is cowardice.
- Confucius

On National Affairs

In these days when so many people seem to want to turn their decisions, their judgement, their very consciences, over to the government, it is worth paying heed to words from those who have had some experience in the area.

To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.
- Theodore Roosevelt

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a litle temporary safety deserver neither liberty nor safety.
- Benjamin Franklin

The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country. [background]
- Hermann Goering

The government is merely a servant -- merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them.
- Mark Twain

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.
- Friedrich Nietzsche

A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true sight, restore their government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are suffering deeply in spirit, and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public debt. If the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at stake.
— Thomas Jefferson, in a letter of 1798, after the passage of the Sedition Act

Miscellaneous

And of course, there are always a few good ones that don't quite fit into the other categories.

It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.
- Mark Twain

He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.
- Socrates