The foundation of morality should not be made dependent on myth nor tied to any authority lest doubt about the myth or about the legitimacy of the authority imperil the foundation of sound judgment and action.
Interpretation
Morality should be based on reason rather than myths or authorities, as doubts about them can weaken our judgment.
In this quote, Albert Einstein emphasizes the importance of a rational foundation for morality, arguing that it should not rely on myths or authoritative figures. He warns that such dependencies could undermine our ability to make sound moral judgments and take appropriate actions, suggesting that moral judgement should be rooted in logic and critical thinking instead of superstition or blind obedience.
In practice
In a debate about ethical decision-making, I might cite Einstein's views on morality as a reminder to focus on rationality rather than tradition.
I cannot then believe in this concept of an anthropomorphic God who has the powers of interfering with these natural laws. As I said before, the most beautiful and most profound religious emotion that we can experience is the sensation of the mystical. And this mysticality is the power of all true science.
If I would follow your advice and Jesus could perceive it, he, as a Jewish teacher, surely would not approve of such behavior.
I want to know all Gods thoughts; all the rest are just details.
In the middle of adversity there is great opportunity.
I do not believe that civilization will be wiped out in a war fought with the atomic bomb. Perhaps two-thirds of the people of the earth will be killed.
To me the worst thing seems to be a school principally to work with methods of fear, force and artificial authority. Such treatment destroys the sound sentiments, the sincerity and the self-confidence of pupils and produces a subservient subject.
It is not difficult to deprive the great majority of independent thought. But the minority who will retain an inclination to criticize must also be silenced....Public criticism or even expressions of doubt must be suppressed because they tend to weaken pubic support....When the doubt or fear expressed concerns not the success of a particular enterprise but of the whole social plan, it must be treated even more as sabotage.
We know a thing by its opposite corollary; hot by having experienced cold; good by having decided what is bad; love by hate.
'-mediocre, arrogant as his father, a determined rule-breaker, delighted to find himself famous, attention-seeking and impertinent -' said Severus. 'You see what you expect to see, Severus.' said Dumbledore.
Truth always rests with the minority, and the minority is always stronger than the majority, because the minority is generally formed by those who really have an opinion, while the strength of a majority is illusory, formed by the gangs who have no opinion - and who, therefore, in the next instant (when it is evident that the minority is the stronger) assume its opinion ... while Truth again reverts to a new minority.
When one is in town one amuses oneself. When one is in the country one amuses other people. It is excessively boring.
Terror cannot be finished by one war.
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