--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Morality must relate, at some level, to…" description: "\"Morality must relate, at some level, to the well-being of conscious creatures. If there are more and less effective ways for us to seek happiness and t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/sam-harris-457_answers_morality-must-relate-at-some-level-to-th_2683539.jpg" --- # Morality must relate, at some level, to the well-being of… ![“Morality must relate, at some level, to the well-being of conscious creatures. If there are more and less effective ways for us to seek happiness and to avoid misery in this world - and there clearly are - then there are right and wrong answers to questions of morality.” quote by Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/sam-harris-457_answers_morality-must-relate-at-some-level-to-th_2683539.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/sam-harris-457_answers_morality-must-relate-at-some-level-to-th_2683539.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/sam-harris-457_answers_morality-must-relate-at-some-level-to-th_2683539.jpg) > “Morality must relate, at some level, to the well-being of conscious creatures. If there are more and less effective ways for us to seek happiness and to avoid misery in this world - and there clearly are - then there are right and wrong answers to questions of morality.” [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Morality is linked to the well‑being of conscious beings; actions that promote happiness are right, those that cause suffering are wrong. **In simple terms:** Morality ties to overall well‑being. Key Takeaway Seek actions that increase well‑being. Themes ethics well‑being consciousness happiness misery Mood thoughtful analytical serious Type philosophical academic When to use this quote - policy making - healthcare - education - environmental regulation - personal decisions Key Concepts utilitarianism moral philosophy human flourishing Questions to Reflect On - How do we measure well‑being objectively? - When does individual freedom conflict with collective happiness? A Different Perspective Complex issues may lack clear right‑wrong answers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Avoid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoid/) [Avoid Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoid-misery-2600805/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Clearly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clearly/) [Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious/) [Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creatures/) [Effective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effective/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/less/) [Level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/level/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Morality Relate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality-relate-2600804/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Must](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/must/) [Questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions/) [Questions Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions-morality-2500115/) [Relate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relate/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right and wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-and-wrong/) [Seek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seek/) [Seek Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seek-happiness-253548/) [Some](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/some/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ways/) [Well being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well-being/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong/) ## Related quotes > [The moral landscape is the framework I use for thinking about questions of morality and human values in universal terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-moral-landscape-is-the-framework-i-use-for-thinking-about/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [There must be right and wrong answers to questions of morality and values that potentially fall within the purview of science. On this view,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/there-must-be-right-and-wrong-answers-to-questions-of-morality-and/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [Human well-being is not a random phenomenon. It depends on many factors - ranging from genetics and neurobiology to sociology and economics. But, clearly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/human-well-being-is-not-a-random-phenomenon-it-depends-on-many/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“There is plenty of misery in the world, all right, but there is ample pleasure, as well. If a person forswears pleasure in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-is-plenty-of-misery-in-the-world-all-right-but-there-is-ample/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [For there is no one so great or mighty that he can avoid the misery that will rise up against him when he resists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-there-is-no-one-so-great-or-mighty-that-he-can-avoid-the-misery/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Since ancient times, the philosophers' secret has always been this: we know that God does not exist, or, at least, if he does, he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/since-ancient-times-the-philosophers-secret-has-always-been-this-we/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [“What has come to light is neither nihilism nor cynicism, as one might have expected, but a quite extraordinary confusion over elementary questions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/what-has-come-to-light-is-neither-nihilism-nor-cynicism-as-one-might/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [“There was just something very crystalizing about bullets whining over your head; it tended to put questions of morality in perspective.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-c-currie/there-was-just-something-very-crystalizing-about-bullets-whining-over/) [Evan C. Currie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-c-currie/) > [Most people don't have any association in their minds with what they do and with ethics. They think they somehow moved past the questions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/most-people-don-t-have-any-association-in-their-minds-with-what-they/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [“Don't wait for happiness to knock your door. You have to seek for happiness by yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaran-ihsan-salih/don-t-wait-for-happiness-to-knock-your-door-you-have-to-seek-for/) [Kamaran Ihsan Salih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaran-ihsan-salih/) > [We desire truth, and find within ourselves only uncertainty. We seek happiness, and find only misery and death. We cannot but desire truth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/we-desire-truth-and-find-within-ourselves-only-uncertainty-we-seek/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“If you seek money, be wise; if you seek power, be strong; if you seek honor, be virtuous; if you seek happiness, be yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-you-seek-money-be-wise-if-you-seek-power-be-strong-if-you-seek/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [I believe the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-the-very-purpose-of-our-life-is-to-seek-happiness-whether/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you seek happiness, look in the mirror. If you seek love, look elsewhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-f-shubnell/if-you-seek-happiness-look-in-the-mirror-if-you-seek-love-look/) [Thomas F. Shubnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-f-shubnell/) > [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) ## More by Sam Harris > [“Moderates in every faith are obliged to loosely interpret (or simply ignore) much of their canons in the interests of living in the modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/moderates-in-every-faith-are-obliged-to-loosely-interpret-or-simply/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [There is no question but that nominally religious scientists like Francis Collins and Kenneth R. Miller are doing lasting harm to our discourse by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/there-is-no-question-but-that-nominally-religious-scientists-like/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [We have Christians against Muslims against Jews, and no matter how liberal your theology, merely identifying yourself as a Christian or a Jew lends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/we-have-christians-against-muslims-against-jews-and-no-matter-how/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“Your principal concern appears to be that the Creator of the universe will take offense at something people do while naked. This prudery of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/your-principal-concern-appears-to-be-that-the-creator-of-the-universe/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“As manuals for contemplative understanding, the Bible and the Koran are worse than useless. Whatever wisdom can be found in their pages is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/as-manuals-for-contemplative-understanding-the-bible-and-the-koran/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [About 120 million of us place the big bang 2,500 years after the Babylonians and Sumerians learned to brew beer. If our polls are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/about-120-million-of-us-place-the-big-bang-2-500-years-after-the/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“If your golf instructor were to insist that you shave your head, sleep no more than four hours each night, renounce sex, and subsist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/if-your-golf-instructor-were-to-insist-that-you-shave-your-head-sleep/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [The fact that one can lose one's sense of self in an ocean of tranquility does not mean that one's consciousness is immaterial or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-fact-that-one-can-lose-one-s-sense-of-self-in-an-ocean-of/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [The second commandment is "Thou shall not construct any graven images." Is this really the pinnacle of what we can achieve morally? The second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not-construct-any-graven-images/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“But the reality of consciousness appears irreducible. Only consciousness can know itself—and directly, through first-person experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/but-the-reality-of-consciousness-appears-irreducible-only/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“Whether or not one likes Huntington's formulation, one thing is clear: the evil that has finally reached our shores is not merely the evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/whether-or-not-one-likes-huntington-s-formulation-one-thing-is-clear/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [The problem is that religion tends to give people bad reasons to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-problem-is-that-religion-tends-to-give-people-bad-reasons-to-be/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [Muslim moderates, wherever they are, must be given every tool necessary to win a war of ideas with their co-religionists. Otherwise, we will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/muslim-moderates-wherever-they-are-must-be-given-every-tool-necessary/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [The idea that any one of our religions represents the infallible word of the One True God requires an encyclopedic ignorance of history, mythology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-idea-that-any-one-of-our-religions-represents-the-infallible-word/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“What could possibly cause billions of human beings to reconsider their religious beliefs? And yet, it is obvious that an utter revolution in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/what-could-possibly-cause-billions-of-human-beings-to-reconsider/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) [Explore all 543 Sam Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [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/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) [Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Morality must relate, at some level, to the well-being of conscious creatures. If there are more and less effective ways for us to seek happiness and to avoid misery in this world - and there clearly are - then there are right and wrong answers to questions of morality.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sam Harris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/morality-must-relate-at-some-level-to-the-well-being-of-conscious/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/morality-must-relate-at-some-level-to-the-well-being-of-conscious/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/sam-harris-457_answers_morality-must-relate-at-some-level-to-th_2683539.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/sam-harris-457_answers_morality-must-relate-at-some-level-to-th_2683539.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/sam-harris-457_answers_morality-must-relate-at-some-level-to-th_2683539.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Morality must relate, at some level, to the well-being of conscious creatures. If there are more and less…” — Sam Harris", "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": "Sam Harris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Morality must relate, at some level,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/morality-must-relate-at-some-level-to-the-well-being-of-conscious/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/morality-must-relate-at-some-level-to-the-well-being-of-conscious/#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 } } ] } ```