--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The conception of worth, that each person…" description: "\"The conception of worth, that each person is an end per se, is not a mere abstraction. Our interest in it is not merely academic. Every outcry against ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/felix-adler-10212_ethics_the-conception-of-worth-that-each-person_295308.png" --- # The conception of worth, that each person is an end per… ![“The conception of worth, that each person is an end per se, is not a mere abstraction. Our interest in it is not merely academic. Every outcry against the oppression of some people by other people, or against what is morally hideous is the affirmation of the principle that a human being as such is…” quote by Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/felix-adler-10212_ethics_the-conception-of-worth-that-each-person_295308.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/felix-adler-10212_ethics_the-conception-of-worth-that-each-person_295308.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/felix-adler-10212_ethics_the-conception-of-worth-that-each-person_295308.png) > “The conception of worth, that each person is an end per se, is not a mere abstraction. Our interest in it is not merely academic. Every outcry against the oppression of some people by other people, or against what is morally hideous is the affirmation of the principle that a human being as such is not to be violated. A human being is not to be handled as a tool but is to be respected and revered.” [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Each person has intrinsic worth; treating people as means violates moral law. **In simple terms:** People deserve respect, not exploitation. Key Takeaway Respect every individual as an end. Themes human rights ethics respect Mood serious reflective Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - workplace policies - education - legal frameworks - interpersonal relationships Key Concepts intrinsic value deontological ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure policies honor human dignity? - What actions treat people as means? A Different Perspective Respect can be challenged by systemic power imbalances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worth/) ## Related quotes > [The truth which has made us free will in the end make us glad also. Every outcry against the oppression of some people by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/the-truth-which-has-made-us-free-will-in-the-end-make-us-glad-also/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [“But I feel like letting other people be good for me--after all, I'm just an unhappy little girl and even if I'm extremely intelligent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/but-i-feel-like-letting-other-people-be-good-for-me-after-all-i-m/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [God save us from people who do the morally right thing. It's always the rest of us who get broken in half.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/god-save-us-from-people-who-do-the-morally-right-thing-it-s-always/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) > [In the best stories, people are morally complex; they are flawed. We read them because the world is flawed, and we want to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-smith/in-the-best-stories-people-are-morally-complex-they-are-flawed-we/) [Russell Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-smith/) > [You can see the rider serving the elephant when people are morally dumbfounded. They have strong gut feelings about what is right and wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/you-can-see-the-rider-serving-the-elephant-when-people-are-morally/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [I do think sometimes people get morally superior without understanding situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-miller/i-do-think-sometimes-people-get-morally-superior-without/) [Sienna Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-miller/) > [I always end up taking people that are morally ambiguous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crudup/i-always-end-up-taking-people-that-are-morally-ambiguous/) [Billy Crudup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crudup/) > [The most disturbing thing, I think, with people that do very morally devious things more and more often is to see that they completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamzin-merchant/the-most-disturbing-thing-i-think-with-people-that-do-very-morally/) [Tamzin Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamzin-merchant/) > [God’s grace does not come to people who morally outperform others, but to those who admit their failure to perform and who acknowledge their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/god-s-grace-does-not-come-to-people-who-morally-outperform-others-but/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If I have a mission in life, it is to convince people that everyone is morally motivated - everyone except for psychopaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/if-i-have-a-mission-in-life-it-is-to-convince-people-that-everyone-is/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [Of all the characteristics needed for both a happy and morally decent life, none surpasses gratitude. Grateful people are happier, and grateful people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/of-all-the-characteristics-needed-for-both-a-happy-and-morally-decent/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“This is the tragedy of the postmodern age. The things that matter most in life, that are necessary for a humane society—ideals like moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/this-is-the-tragedy-of-the-postmodern-age-the-things-that-matter-most/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [But the most important lesson I have learned in my twenty years or research on morality is that nearly all people are morally motivated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/but-the-most-important-lesson-i-have-learned-in-my-twenty-years-or/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [Your worth as a person does not come from what you are paid. It comes from who you are and what you give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-r-dominguez/your-worth-as-a-person-does-not-come-from-what-you-are-paid-it-comes/) Joseph R. Dominguez > [“Eliza, your worth as a person is not dependent on the art you create or what other people think of it" -Dr.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-zappia/eliza-your-worth-as-a-person-is-not-dependent-on-the-art-you-create/) [Francesca Zappia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-zappia/) ## More by Felix Adler > [Love is the expansion of two natures in such fashion that each include the other, each is enriched by the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/love-is-the-expansion-of-two-natures-in-such-fashion-that-each/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [Act so as to elicit the best in others and thereby in thyself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/act-so-as-to-elicit-the-best-in-others-and-thereby-in-thyself/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [May the humanity that is within every human being be held precious. The vice that underlies all vices is that we are held cheap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/may-the-humanity-that-is-within-every-human-being-be-held-precious/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [It is the moral element contained in it that alone gives value and dignity to a religion, and only in so far as its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/it-is-the-moral-element-contained-in-it-that-alone-gives-value-and/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [It is written that the last enemy to be vanquished is death. We should begin early in life to vanquish this enemy by obliterating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/it-is-written-that-the-last-enemy-to-be-vanquished-is-death-we-should/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [The human race may be compared to a writer. At the outset a writer has often only a vague general notion of the plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/the-human-race-may-be-compared-to-a-writer-at-the-outset-a-writer-has/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [ “\[His research into biblical criticism had lead him to the conclusion that most of what was contained in traditional religion simply wasn't true\] Was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/his-research-into-biblical-criticism-had-lead-him-to-the-conclusion/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [We measure our enjoyments by the sum expended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/we-measure-our-enjoyments-by-the-sum-expended/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [An anxious unrest, a fierce craving desire for gain has taken possession of the commercial world, and in instances no longer rare the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/an-anxious-unrest-a-fierce-craving-desire-for-gain-has-taken/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [Few are there that will leave the secure seclusion of the scholar's life, the peaceful walks of literature and learning, to stand out a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/few-are-there-that-will-leave-the-secure-seclusion-of-the-scholar-s/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [The right for the right's sake is the motto which everyone should take for his own life. With that as a standard of value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/the-right-for-the-right-s-sake-is-the-motto-which-everyone-should/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [FOR a long time the conviction has been dimly felt in the community that, without prejudice to existing institutions, the legal day of weekly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/for-a-long-time-the-conviction-has-been-dimly-felt-in-the-community/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [Admitting the force of these contentions, nevertheless, the custom of meeting together in public assembly for the consideration of the most serious, the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/admitting-the-force-of-these-contentions-nevertheless-the-custom-of/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [The office of the public teacher is an unenviable and thankless one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/the-office-of-the-public-teacher-is-an-unenviable-and-thankless-one/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [An optimist is a person who sees only the lights in the picture, whereas a pessimist sees only the shadows. An idealist, however, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/an-optimist-is-a-person-who-sees-only-the-lights-in-the-picture/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) [Explore all 67 Felix Adler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) ## More Ethics quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) Rabelaise > [He who mistrusts most should be trusted least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theognis-of-megara/he-who-mistrusts-most-should-be-trusted-least/) [Theognis of Megara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theognis-of-megara/) > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Records, radio, television, movies, magazines-all are monopolized by the money managers who are guided by one ethic, the words wealth and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/records-radio-television-movies-magazines-all-are-monopolized-by-the/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. But there is perfect injustice, and we know it when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/there-is-no-perfect-justice-just-as-there-is-no-absolute-in-ethics/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [I think the ethics and morals of genetic engineering are very complicated. It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/) [Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/) > [What our species needs, above all else, is a generally accepted ethical system that is compatible with the scientific knowledge we now possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-our-species-needs-above-all-else-is-a-generally-accepted-ethical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ethics is not definable, is not implementable, because it is not conscious; it involves not only our thinking, but also our feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valdemar-w-setzer/ethics-is-not-definable-is-not-implementable-because-it-is-not/) Valdemar W Setzer > [Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/any-time-you-give-a-man-something-he-doesn-t-earn-you-cheapen-him-our/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) [Browse all 4,548 Ethics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The conception of worth, that each person is an end per se, is not a mere abstraction. Our interest in it is not merely academic. Every outcry against the oppression of some people by other people, or against what is morally hideous is the affirmation of the principle that a human being as such is not to be violated. 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