39 Quotes About Ethical Behavior

Ethics play a large part of the decisions we make in life and help us define the boundaries of our moral compass. Whether you are gaining insight into your professional or personal life, these quotes about ethical behavior help to define the lines you should operate within.

“A country should be defended not by arms, but by ethical behavior.”

“A kernel of truth lurks at the heart of religion, because spiritual experience, ethical behavior, and strong communities are essential for human happiness.”

“A man is ethical only when life, as such, is sacred to him, that of plants and animals as that of his fellow men, and when he devotes himself helpfully to all life that is in need of help.”

“A man’s ethical behaviour should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary.”

“Aspire to decency. Practice civility toward one another. Admire and emulate ethical behavior wherever you find it.”

“But you cannot have harmony without a commitment to ethical behavior. It’s the fence that keeps out the goats that will eat all the young shoots in your garden.”

“Corporate social responsibility is measured in terms of businesses improving conditions for their employees, shareholders, communities, and
environment. But moral responsibility goes further, reflecting the need for corporations to address fundamental ethical issues such as inclusion, dignity, and equality.”

“Don’t make misrepresentations to anyone you deal with. If you believe the other person may have misunderstood you, correct any misunderstanding you find exists.”

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”

“Education is the art of making man ethical.”

“Ethical behavior is doing the right thing when no one else is watching- even when doing the wrong thing is legal.”

“Ethical decisions ensure that everyone’s best interests are protected. When in doubt, don’t.”

“I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies, for the hardest victory is over self.”

“If networks are to be more efficient… this will come about only on the basis of a high level of trust and the existence of shared norms of ethical behavior between network members.”

“If you build that foundation, both the moral and the ethical foundation, as well as the business foundation, and the experience foundation, then the building won’t crumble.”

“If you don’t have integrity, you have nothing. You can’t buy it. You can have all the money in the world, but if you are not a moral and ethical person, you really have nothing.”

“In many countries today, moral and ethical norms are being reconsidered; national traditions, differences in nation and culture are being erased.”

“It is an open question whether any behavior based on fear of eternal punishment can be regarded as ethical or should be regarded as merely cowardly.”

“It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.”

“It seems to me that the idea of a personal God is an anthropological concept which I cannot take seriously. I also cannot imagine some will or goal outside the human sphere.”

“Man is an animal with primary instincts of survival. Consequently his ingenuity has developed first and his soul afterwards. The progress of science is far ahead of man’s ethical behavior.”

“Man would indeeded be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.”

“No responsibility of government is more fundamental than the responsibility of maintaining the highest standard of ethical behavior for those who conduct the public business.”

“Obviously everyone wants to be successful, but I want to be looked back on as being very innovative, very trusted and ethical and ultimately making a big difference in the world.”

“Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of a good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.”

“Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war that we know about peace, more about killing that we know about living.”

“Research shows the presence of women raises the standards of ethical behavior and lowers corruption.”

“Since belief determines behavior, doesn’t it make sense that we should be teaching ethical, moral values in every home and in every school in America?”

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

“The idea of a personal God is an anthropological concept which I am unable to take seriously.”

“The industrial revolution has tended to produce everywhere great urban masses that seem to be increasingly careless of ethical standards.”

“The man of character, sensitive to the meaning of what he is doing, will know how to discover the ethical paths in the maze of possible behavior.”

“The mind cannot support moral chaos for long. Men are under as strong a compulsion to invent an ethical setting for their behavior as spiders are to weave themselves webs.”

“The moral values, ethical codes and laws that guide our choices in normal times are, if anything, even more important to help us navigate the confusing and disorienting time of a disaster.”

“The reason I want to show shocking things is that they always pose an ethical question.”

“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”

“There’s a great deal of difference between thinking reflectively about moral issues and achieving higher standards of ethical behavior.”

“We all have one, in one form or another. To me, this dragon is both the wild nature of ourselves and our conscience in his embodiment of the Old Code ethical behavior and morality.”

“Where there is not community, trust, respect, ethical behavior are difficult for the young to learn and for the old to maintain.”

Creating an ethical culture in your business will help to create a functional environment for everyone to operate in.