Atheism leaves a man to sense, to philosophy, to natural piety, to laws, to reputation; all of which may be guides to an outward moral virtue, even if religion vanished.
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No source entered for Contribution #2780
How is one to live a moral and compassionate existence when one is fully aware of the blood, the horror inherent in life, when one finds darkness not only in one's culture but within oneself? If there is a stage at which an individual life becomes truly adult, it must be when one grasps the irony in its unfolding and accepts responsibility for a life lived in the midst of such paradox. One must live in the middle of contradiction, because if all contradiction were eliminated at once life would collapse. There are simply no answers to some of the great pressing questions. You continue to live them out, making your life a worthy expression of leaning into the light.
Hypocrisy is the tribute that vice pays to virtue.
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No source entered for Contribution #2736
The Roots of Violence:
Wealth without work,
Pleasure without conscience,
Knowledge without character,
Commerce without morality,
Science without humanity,
Worship without sacrifice,
Politics without principles.
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No source entered for Contribution #2730
Man will become better when you show him what he is like.
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No source entered for Contribution #2724
He who is formerly slothful and afterwards overcomes his sloth,
brightens up this world, like the moon when freed from clouds. He
whose misdeeds are covered by good deeds, brightens up this
world, like the moon when freed from clouds.
Source (click to close)
Source type: Sacred Text
The Dhammapada
172-173
http://
Contribution #2713
They should champion their one true God, exalted be He, through
the hosts of forbearance, of submission, of an upright character, of
goodly deeds, and of the choicest and most refined words.
Source (click to close)
Source type: Sacred Text
Crisis and Victory
#77
http://
Contribution #2712
The companions of God are, in this day, the lump that must leaven
the peoples of the world. They must show forth such
trustworthiness, such truthfulness and perseverance, such deeds and
character that all mankind may profit by their example.
Tell him, no one in this world can claim any relationship to Me
except those who, in all their deeds and in their conduct, follow My
example, in such wise that all the peoples of the earth would be
powerless to prevent them from doing and saying that which is
meet and seemly.
Source (click to close)
Source type: Sacred Text
Excellence in All Things
#3, #4
http://
Contribution #2710
This people need no weapons of destruction, inasmuch as they have girded themselves to reconstruct the world. Their hosts are the hosts of goodly deeds, and their arms the arms of upright conduct, and their commander the fear of God.
Source (click to close)
Source type: Sacred Text
Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
p. 74
http://
Contribution #2709
The fruits of the tree of man have ever been and are goodly deeds and a praiseworthy character.
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Source type: Sacred Text
Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
p. 26
http://
Contribution #2708
It behooveth the people of Bahá to render the Lord victorious through the power of their utterance and to admonish the people by their goodly deeds and character, inasmuch as deeds exert greater influence than words.
Source (click to close)
Source type: Sacred Text
The Tablets of Bahu'u'llah
p. 57
http://
Contribution #2707
Help ye the one true God, exalted be His glory, by your goodly deeds, by such conduct and character as shall be acceptable in His sight.
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Source type: Sacred Text
Gleainings from the Writings of Bahu'u'llah
p. 272
http://
Contribution #2705
O people of God! Do not busy yourselves in your own concerns; let your thoughts be fixed upon that which will rehabilitate the fortunes of mankind and sanctify the hearts and souls of men. This can best be achieved through pure and holy deeds, through a virtuous life and a goodly behavior. Valiant acts will ensure the triumph of this Cause, and a saintly character will reinforce its power.
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Source type: Sacred Text
Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah
pp.93-94
http://
Contribution #2703
O children of Adam! Holy words and pure and goodly deeds ascend unto the heaven of celestial glory. Strive that your deeds may be cleansed from the dust of self and hypocrisy and find favor at the court of glory; for ere long the assayers of mankind shall, in the holy presence of the Adored One, accept naught but absolute virtue and deeds of stainless purity. This is the day-star of wisdom and of divine mystery that hath shone above the horizon of the divine will. Blessed are they that turn thereunto.
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Source type: Sacred Text
The Hidden Words
Persian
#69
http://
Contribution #2701
O My Friends! Quench ye the lamp of error, and kindle within your hearts the everlasting torch of divine guidance. For ere long the assayers of mankind shall, in the holy presence of the Adored, accept naught but purest virtue and deeds of stainless holiness.
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Source type: Sacred Text
The Hidden Words
Persian
#35
http://
Contribution #2700
So conscience for the sinner distorts the truth of the upright, but
(his) soul is in agony at the judgment of the Chinvat Bridge, having
strayed by his own deeds and tongue from the Path of
Righteousness.
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Source type: Sacred Text
Yasna
51:13
http://
Contribution #2697
But, being Yogi, striving strong and long, purged from
transgressions, perfected by births following on births, he plants his
feet at last upon the farther path.
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Source type: Sacred Text
The Song Celestial
6:45
http://
Contribution #2686
The three greatest concerns of men are these: to make him who is
an enemy a friend, to make righteous him who is wicked, and to
make the ignorant learned.
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Source type: Sacred Text
Shayast-La-Shayasts
20:6 GZ 32:1
http://
Contribution #2679
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
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Source type: Sacred Text
Bible
1 Thessalonians
5:15
Version or Translation KJV
http://
Contribution #2673
If only it were all so simple, if only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being, and who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?
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No source entered for Contribution #2643
Join the company of lions rather than assume the lead among foxes.
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Source type: Sacred Text
Talmud
http://
Contribution #2626
There are stars who's light only reaches the earth long after they have fallen appart. There are people who's remembrance gives light in this world, long after they have passed away. This light shines in our darkest nights on the road we must follow.
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Source type: Sacred Text
Talmud
http://
Contribution #2620
Man has three friends on whose company he relies. First, wealth which goes with him only while good fortune lasts. Second, his relatives; they go only as far as the grave, leave him there. The third friend, his good deeds, go with him beyond the grave.
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Source type: Sacred Text
Talmud
http://
Contribution #2618
He who carries out one good deed acquires one advocate in his own behalf, and he who commits one transgression acquires one accuser against himself. Repentance and good works are like a shield against calamity.
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Source type: Sacred Text
Talmud
http://
Contribution #2617
A person’s pursuit of goodness leads to greatness, but the pursuit of greatness leads to ruin. Pursue goodness and you will achieve great things.
People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.
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No source entered for Contribution #2474
I don't know who my grandfather was; I'm much more concerned to know what his grandson will be.
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No source entered for Contribution #2447
Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
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Source type: Book
Lincoln's Own Stories
http://
Contribution #2444
When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion.
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No source entered for Contribution #2442
It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.
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No source entered for Contribution #2435
A person will worship something, have no doubt about that. We may think our tribute is paid in secret in the dark recesses of our hearts, but it will out. That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives, and our character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping we are becoming.
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No source entered for Contribution #2415
It's time for greatness -- not for greed. It's a time for idealism -- not ideology. It is a time not just for compassionate words, but compassionate action.
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No source entered for Contribution #2378
Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.
For any human being, the purification of character is done thus . . . with good thoughts, good words, good deeds.
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Source type: Sacred Text
Zoroastrian Teachings
Vendidad
10:10
http://
Contribution #2222
Our awesome responsibility to ourselves, to our children, and to the future is to create ourselves in the image of goodness, because the future depends on the nobility of our imaginings.
Live so that you wouldn't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.
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No source entered for Contribution #2178
No one gossips about other people's secret virtues.
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No source entered for Contribution #2177
Of course it is a lot worthier to elevate oneself than to abase someone else. It is also a lot harder, and nature spontaneously levels everything the easy way. Moral excellence relates to culture, is an acquired trait, by virtue of which a human is courageous and just, worthy of praise.
Learning is the only wealth tyrants cannot despoil. Only death can dim the lamp of knowledge that is within you. The true wealth of a nation lies not in its gold or silver but in its learning, wisdom, and in the uprightness of its sons.
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Source type: Book
The Voice of the Master
by trans. Anthony R. Ferris
Page 61
Published by Citadel Press
, New York
, 1958
http://
Contribution #2142
Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.
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No source entered for Contribution #2131
The aim of every political Constitution is or ought to be first to obtain for rulers, men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue the common good of the society; and in the next place, to take the most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous, whilst they continue to hold their public trust.
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No source entered for Contribution #2130
...[A] good moral character is the first essential in a man, and that the habits contracted [early in life] are generally indelible, and your conduct here may stamp your character through life. It is therefore highly important that you should endeavor not only to be learned but virtuous. ... The foundations of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality, and the preeminence of free government be exemplified by all the attributes which can win the affections of its citizens, and command the respect of the world. ...
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No source entered for Contribution #2129
Nothing is more essential to the establishment of manners in a State than that all persons employed in places of power and trust must be men of unexceptionable characters. ... If men of wisdom and knowledge, of moderation and temperance, of patience, fortitude and perseverance, of sobriety and true republican simplicity of manners, of zeal for the honour of the Supreme Being and the welfare of the commonwealth; if men possessed of these other excellent qualities are chosen to fill the seats of government, we may expect that our affairs will rest on a solid and permanent foundation. ... [N]either the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. ... No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is preserved.
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No source entered for Contribution #2127
The character that takes command in moments of crucial choices has already been determined by a thousand other choices made earlier in seemingly unimportant moments. It has been determined by all the 'little' choices of years past - by all those times when the voice of conscience was at war with the voice of temptation, [which was] whispering the lie that 'it really doesn't matter.' It has been determined by all the day-to-day decisions made when life seemed easy and crises seemed far away - the decision that, piece by piece, bit by bit, developed habits of discipline or of laziness; habits of self-sacrifice or self-indulgence; habits of duty and honor and integrity - or dishonor and shame.
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No source entered for Contribution #2126
The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters of public men.
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No source entered for Contribution #2125
The virtues are lost in self-interest as rivers are lost in the sea.
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No source entered for Contribution #2092
The intelligent and good man holds in his affections the good and true of every land--the boundaries of countries are not the limitations of his sympathies. Caring nothing for race, or color, he loves those who speak other languages and worship other gods. Between him and those who suffer, there is no impassable gulf. He salutes the world, and extends the hand of friendship to the human race. He does not bow before a provincial and patriotic god--one who protects his tribe or nation, and abhores the rest of mankind.
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Source type: Book
What's God Got to Do with It?
by Editor: Tim Page
Page 27
Published by Steerforth Press
, Hanover, New Hampshire
, 2005
http://
Contribution #2072
It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
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No source entered for Contribution #2062
What does virtue look like in a person?
(0 responses)
