--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All moral laws are merely statements that…" description: "\"All moral laws are merely statements that certain kinds of actions will have good effects.\" — George Edward Moore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/george-edward-moore-32924_certain_all-moral-laws-are-merely-statements-tha_3232359.jpg" --- # All moral laws are merely statements that certain kinds of… ![“All moral laws are merely statements that certain kinds of actions will have good effects.” quote by George Edward Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/george-edward-moore-32924_certain_all-moral-laws-are-merely-statements-tha_3232359.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/george-edward-moore-32924_certain_all-moral-laws-are-merely-statements-tha_3232359.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/george-edward-moore-32924_certain_all-moral-laws-are-merely-statements-tha_3232359.jpg) > “All moral laws are merely statements that certain kinds of actions will have good effects.” [George Edward Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-moore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral rules are based on the beneficial outcomes of actions, not abstract duties. **In simple terms:** Morality ties to good results. Key Takeaway Consider consequences when judging actions. Themes ethics consequentialism philosophy Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical academic When to use this quote - policy making - personal decisions - legal judgments - environmental planning Key Concepts utility goodness action Questions to Reflect On - What outcomes truly define 'good'? - How do we measure moral success? A Different Perspective Consequences can be hard to predict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) ## Related quotes > [The fundamental laws are in the long run merely statements that every event is itself and not some different event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-fundamental-laws-are-in-the-long-run-merely-statements-that-every/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Ill-considered but well-intentioned actions do more good that actions that are well-considered but cruel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/ill-considered-but-well-intentioned-actions-do-more-good-that-actions/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [Attitudes determine our actions, for good or bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/attitudes-determine-our-actions-for-good-or-bad/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [Since we own our bodies, we also inevitably own the effects of our actions, be they good or bad. If we own the effects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/since-we-own-our-bodies-we-also-inevitably-own-the-effects-of-our/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [To take responsibility for one's own actions, good and bad, is something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/to-take-responsibility-for-one-s-own-actions-good-and-bad-is/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [Our actions are neither so good nor so evil as our impulses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/our-actions-are-neither-so-good-nor-so-evil-as-our-impulses/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [“The man who does not enjoy doing noble actions is not a good man at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-man-who-does-not-enjoy-doing-noble-actions-is-not-a-good-man-at/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Actions, good thoughts, and positive energy, speak louder than judgmental words and are the most powerful tools you can use when working toward a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madisyn-taylor/actions-good-thoughts-and-positive-energy-speak-louder-than/) Madisyn Taylor > [“A good life is the product of good actions, and good actions are the products of good decisions; and good decisions are the products…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratap-c-singhal/a-good-life-is-the-product-of-good-actions-and-good-actions-are-the/) [Pratap C. Singhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratap-c-singhal/) > [The majority of men are more capable of great actions than of good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/the-majority-of-men-are-more-capable-of-great-actions-than-of-good/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Good intentions don't really matter if they don't lead to good actions. Sometimes those with good intentions do us more harm than good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/good-intentions-don-t-really-matter-if-they-don-t-lead-to-good/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Since God is satisfied with our good will and honest efforts, let us also be satisfied with the outcome He gives to them, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/since-god-is-satisfied-with-our-good-will-and-honest-efforts-let-us/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [These virtues are formed in man by his doing the actions ... The good of man is a working of the soul in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/these-virtues-are-formed-in-man-by-his-doing-the-actions-the-good-of/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Great words won’t cover ugly actions and good frames won’t save bad paitings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/new-noise-by-refused/great-words-won-t-cover-ugly-actions-and-good-frames-won-t-save-bad/) New Noise by Refused > [Indeed, we may go further and assert that anyone who does not delight in fine actions is not even a good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/indeed-we-may-go-further-and-assert-that-anyone-who-does-not-delight/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) ## More by George Edward Moore > [The lot of critics is to be remembered by what they failed to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/the-lot-of-critics-is-to-be-remembered-by-what-they-failed-to/) [George Edward Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-moore/) > [Faith goes out through the window when beauty comes in at the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/faith-goes-out-through-the-window-when-beauty-comes-in-at-the-door/) [George Edward Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-moore/) > [Now, in my opinion, a woman has no business with Power-Power admits no equal, and dismisses friendship for flattery. Besides, it keeps the men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/now-in-my-opinion-a-woman-has-no-business-with-power-power-admits-no/) [George Edward Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-moore/) > [Honesty needs no pains to set itself off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/honesty-needs-no-pains-to-set-itself-off/) [George Edward Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-moore/) > [I am free in performing an action if I could have done otherwise if I had chosen to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/i-am-free-in-performing-an-action-if-i-could-have-done-otherwise-if-i/) [George Edward Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-moore/) > [A great artist is always before his time or behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/a-great-artist-is-always-before-his-time-or-behind-it/) [George Edward Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-moore/) > [Can't I another's face commend, Or to her virtues be a friend, But instantly your forehead louers, As if her merit lessen'd yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/can-t-i-another-s-face-commend-or-to-her-virtues-be-a-friend-but/) [George Edward Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-moore/) > [Beauty has wings, and too hastily flies, and love, unrewarded, soon sickens and dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/beauty-has-wings-and-too-hastily-flies-and-love-unrewarded-soon/) [George Edward Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-moore/) > [It does not matter how badly you paint so long as you don't paint badly like other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/it-does-not-matter-how-badly-you-paint-so-long-as-you-don-t-paint/) [George Edward Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-moore/) > [I'll tell thee what it says; it calls me villain, a treacherous husband, a cruel father, a false brother; one lost to nature and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/i-ll-tell-thee-what-it-says-it-calls-me-villain-a-treacherous-husband/) [George Edward Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-moore/) > [But I have seen thee And thou art enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/but-i-have-seen-thee-and-thou-art-enough/) [George Edward Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-moore/) > [Other men it is said have seen angels, but I have seen thee and thou art enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/other-men-it-is-said-have-seen-angels-but-i-have-seen-thee-and-thou/) [George Edward Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-moore/) > [If I am asked 'what is good?' my answer is that good is good, and that is the end of the matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/if-i-am-asked-what-is-good-my-answer-is-that-good-is-good-and-that-is/) [George Edward Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-moore/) > [But from the hoop's bewitching round, Her very shoe has power to wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/but-from-the-hoop-s-bewitching-round-her-very-shoe-has-power-to-wound/) [George Edward Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-moore/) [Explore all 15 George Edward Moore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-moore/) ## More Certain quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [Why do we love certain homes, and why do they seem to love us? It is the warmth of our individual hearts reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/why-do-we-love-certain-homes-and-why-do-they-seem-to-love-us-it-is/) T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings > [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [We've all seen talented young players who get to a certain level but there comes a point where that talent will only take you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/we-ve-all-seen-talented-young-players-who-get-to-a-certain-level-but/) [Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. But later in life good poets burn their early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-think-that-at-a-certain-age-say-fifteen-or-sixteen-poetry-is-like/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) Browse all 13,673 Certain quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All moral laws are merely statements that certain kinds of actions will have good effects.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Edward Moore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/all-moral-laws-are-merely-statements-that-certain-kinds-of-actions/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Certain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/all-moral-laws-are-merely-statements-that-certain-kinds-of-actions/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/george-edward-moore-32924_certain_all-moral-laws-are-merely-statements-tha_3232359.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/george-edward-moore-32924_certain_all-moral-laws-are-merely-statements-tha_3232359.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/george-edward-moore-32924_certain_all-moral-laws-are-merely-statements-tha_3232359.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All moral laws are merely statements that certain kinds of actions will have good effects.” — George Edward Moore", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "George Edward Moore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-moore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "All moral laws are merely statements...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/all-moral-laws-are-merely-statements-that-certain-kinds-of-actions/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-moore/all-moral-laws-are-merely-statements-that-certain-kinds-of-actions/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```