Conduct Quote by Christopher Hitchens
““Right and wrong, good and bad, he regarded as qualities solely of conduct—of acts and omissions; there being no feeling which may not lead, and does not frequently lead, either to good or to bad actions: conscience itself, the very desire to act right, often leading people to act wrong. Consistently carrying out the doctrine, that the object of praise and blame should be the discouragement of wrong conduct and the encouragement of right, he refused to let his praise or blame be influenced by the motive of the agent.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Moral Landscape of Conscience,” 2005
Conscience is a desire to act rightly, yet it can mislead; praise and blame should target actions, not motives.
In simple terms: Focus on actions, not intentions.
Key Takeaway
Judge deeds, not motives.
Themes
ethics
conscience
morality
psychology
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- legal judgments
- parenting
- performance reviews
- political discourse
Key Concepts
Moral judgment
intentionality
behavioral ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- Can we ignore motives entirely?
- How to balance intent and outcome?
A Different Perspective
Motives often matter in real life.
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