There can be no question of holding forth on ethics. I have seen people behave badly with great morality and I note every day that integrity has no need of rules
Interpretation
Ethics are not merely about rules; integrity is inherent and transcends prescribed morals.
This quote from Albert Camus suggests that true integrity does not rely on external rules or moral codes. It highlights the discrepancy between public morality and personal integrity, emphasizing that ethical behavior can be complex and often fails to align with rigid standards or societal expectations.
In practice
In a discussion about moral dilemmas, this quote can emphasize the importance of personal integrity over societal rules.
The Poor Man whom everyone speaks of, the Poor Man whom everyone pities, one of the repulsive Poor from whom charitable souls keep their distance, he has still said nothing. Or, rather, he has spoken through the voice of Victor Hugo, Zola, Richepin. At least, they said so. And these shameful impostures fed their authors. Cruel irony, the Poor Man tormented with hunger feeds those who plead his case.
The certainty of a God giving meaning to life far surpasses in attractiveness the ability to behave badly with impunity. The choice would not be hard to make. But there is no choice and that is where the bitterness comes in. The absurd does not liberate; it binds.
Between history and the eternal I have chosen history because I like certainties. Of it, at least, I am certain, and how can I deny this force crushing me.
Don't wait for the last judgment - it takes place every day.
A single sentence will suffice for modern man. He fornicated and read the papers. After that vigorous definition, the subject will be, if I may say so, exhausted.
At times I feel myself overtaken by an immense tenderness for these people around me who live in the same century.
The Christian of the future will be a mystic or he will not exist at all.
Into this wild Abyss/ The womb of Nature, and perhaps her grave--/ Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire,/ But all these in their pregnant causes mixed/ Confusedly, and which thus must ever fight,/ Unless the Almighty Maker them ordain/ His dark materials to create more worlds,--/ Into this wild Abyss the wary Fiend/ Stood on the brink of Hell and looked a while,/ Pondering his voyage; for no narrow frith/ He had to cross.
Gradually, by selective breeding, the congenital differences between rulers_x000D_ and ruled will increase until they become almost different species. A revolt_x000D_ of the plebs would become as unthinkable as an organized insurrection of_x000D_ sheep against the practice of eating mutton.
Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.
When he found that the administrators were upset, he laughed. “Do they expect students not to be anarchists?” he said. “What else can the young be? When you are on the bottom, you must organize from the bottom up
If you shed tears when you miss the sun, you also miss the stars.
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