--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Morality is either a social contract or…" description: "\"Morality is either a social contract or you have to pay cash.\" — Stanislaw Jerzy Lec" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/stanislaw-jerzy-lec-3312_cash_morality-is-either-a-social-contract-or_1731418.png" --- # Morality is either a social contract or you have to pay… ![“Morality is either a social contract or you have to pay cash.” quote by Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/stanislaw-jerzy-lec-3312_cash_morality-is-either-a-social-contract-or_1731418.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/stanislaw-jerzy-lec-3312_cash_morality-is-either-a-social-contract-or_1731418.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/stanislaw-jerzy-lec-3312_cash_morality-is-either-a-social-contract-or_1731418.png) > “Morality is either a social contract or you have to pay cash.” [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) ## 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 either a shared agreement or a personal cost; without communal standards, ethical behavior requires personal sacrifice. **In simple terms:** Morality is a contract or a personal price. Key Takeaway Consider the societal foundations of your ethical choices. Themes ethics society individual responsibility Mood critical provocative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - business ethics - political policy - personal decisions Key Concepts social contract theory cost of morality personal integrity Questions to Reflect On - Do you view morality as a collective agreement or personal duty? - What are the costs of acting ethically alone? A Different Perspective If no social contract exists, morality becomes a personal burden. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social contract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-contract/) ## Related quotes > [A group is as healthy as its 'social contract' is clear; a congregation as faithful as its covenant is mutually understood; a pastor as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-group-is-as-healthy-as-its-social-contract-is-clear-a-congregation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's funny about men and women. Men pay in cash to get them and pay in cash to get rid of them. Women pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedy-lamarr/it-s-funny-about-men-and-women-men-pay-in-cash-to-get-them-and-pay-in/) [Hedy Lamarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedy-lamarr/) > [Money is truthful. If a man speaks of his honor, make him pay cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/money-is-truthful-if-a-man-speaks-of-his-honor-make-him-pay-cash/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [In God we trust; all others pay cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-shepherd/in-god-we-trust-all-others-pay-cash/) [Jean Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-shepherd/) > [Tell me what would you say if I told you I could pay for that? Would you take the cash I gave you or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letoya-luckett/tell-me-what-would-you-say-if-i-told-you-i-could-pay-for-that-would/) [Letoya Luckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letoya-luckett/) > [I had this question asked to me recently when I was buying food for my wife and brother in law and I would like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-mclean/i-had-this-question-asked-to-me-recently-when-i-was-buying-food-for/) [A. J. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) > [If you steal my artwork, you will pay. In cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-simmons/if-you-steal-my-artwork-you-will-pay-in-cash/) [Nick Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-simmons/) > [The world needs another vehicle to get people to pay in cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/the-world-needs-another-vehicle-to-get-people-to-pay-in-cash/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [You stick a credit card in a machine, and you pay $3 or whatever it is to get cash - your own money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-janklow/you-stick-a-credit-card-in-a-machine-and-you-pay-3-or-whatever-it-is/) [Bill Janklow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-janklow/) > [A poem may be an instance of morality, of social conditions, of psychological history; it may instance all its qualities, but never one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/a-poem-may-be-an-instance-of-morality-of-social-conditions-of/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [You who prattle that morality is social and that man would need no morality on a desert island - it is on a desert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/you-who-prattle-that-morality-is-social-and-that-man-would-need-no/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Because morality is a social necessity, the moment faith in god is banished, man's gaze turns from god to man and he becomes socially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goparaju-ramachandra-rao/because-morality-is-a-social-necessity-the-moment-faith-in-god-is/) [Goparaju Ramachandra Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goparaju-ramachandra-rao/) > [In our social contract, we have provisions that see to it that you take care of people who need some help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/in-our-social-contract-we-have-provisions-that-see-to-it-that-you/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [What makes the Universal Declaration an epochal document is first of all its global impetus and secondly the breadth of its claims, a commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/what-makes-the-universal-declaration-an-epochal-document-is-first-of/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [I'm still a communist in the sense that I don't believe the world will survive with the rich getting richer and the poor getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/i-m-still-a-communist-in-the-sense-that-i-don-t-believe-the-world/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) ## More by Stanislaw Jerzy Lec > [Even Einstein had to rely for his time on his clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/even-einstein-had-to-rely-for-his-time-on-his-clock/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [A sweet thing, perspective - a chance to see your enemies so small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/a-sweet-thing-perspective-a-chance-to-see-your-enemies-so-small/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [The success of Heine -- to become a world-famous 'unknown poet.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/the-success-of-heine-to-become-a-world-famous-unknown-poet/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [What do I believe? I believe in God, if he exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/what-do-i-believe-i-believe-in-god-if-he-exists/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [There are parodies of non-existent things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/there-are-parodies-of-non-existent-things/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [Love of one's country recognizes no frontiers... of other countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/love-of-one-s-country-recognizes-no-frontiers-of-other-countries/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [Illiterates have to dictate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/illiterates-have-to-dictate/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [“Even the masochists tell everything when tortured. From sheer gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/even-the-masochists-tell-everything-when-tortured-from-sheer-gratitude/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [Many a zero thinks it is the ellipse on which the Earth travels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/many-a-zero-thinks-it-is-the-ellipse-on-which-the-earth-travels/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [I don't agree with mathematics; the sum total of zeros is a frightening figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/i-don-t-agree-with-mathematics-the-sum-total-of-zeros-is-a/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [Let him who is without guilt cast the first stone. A trap. Because then he will be no longer without guilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/let-him-who-is-without-guilt-cast-the-first-stone-a-trap-because-then/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [A fat person lives shorter but eats longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/a-fat-person-lives-shorter-but-eats-longer/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [An empty envelope that is sealed contains a secret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/an-empty-envelope-that-is-sealed-contains-a-secret/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [Advice to writers: Sometimes you just have to stop writing. Even before you begin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/advice-to-writers-sometimes-you-just-have-to-stop-writing-even-before/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [I prefer the sign NO ENTRANCE to the sign which says NO EXIT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/i-prefer-the-sign-no-entrance-to-the-sign-which-says-no-exit/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) [Explore all 128 Stanislaw Jerzy Lec quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) ## More Cash quotes > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A garden has a curious innocent way of consuming cash while all the time you are under the illusion that you are spending nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-meynell/a-garden-has-a-curious-innocent-way-of-consuming-cash-while-all-the/) [Esther Meynell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-meynell/) > [Nothing knits man to man like the frequent passage from hand to hand of cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-sickert/nothing-knits-man-to-man-like-the-frequent-passage-from-hand-to-hand/) [Walter Sickert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-sickert/) > [“It’s me,” he says softly. “Stop listening to everything else. Remember the way you feel when I’m kissing you and touching you. Don’t think with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/it-s-me-he-says-softly-stop-listening-to-everything-else-remember-the/) [M. 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See, this is why President Bush wants to invade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/american-forces-in-iraq-found-650-million-in-american-cash-sealed-in/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I feel a lot better when I've got a bit of cash on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-doherty/i-feel-a-lot-better-when-i-ve-got-a-bit-of-cash-on-me/) [Pete Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-doherty/) > [If our financial industry regarded security the way the health-care sector does, I would stuff my cash in a mattress under my bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-rubin/if-our-financial-industry-regarded-security-the-way-the-health-care/) [Avi Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-rubin/) > [Why, just a couple of economic seasons ago, was idle cash considered an indication of bad management or lazy management? Because it meant that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/why-just-a-couple-of-economic-seasons-ago-was-idle-cash-considered-an/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [The only issue cash presents you is the independence of not stressing about funds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/the-only-issue-cash-presents-you-is-the-independence-of-not-stressing/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [It's funny about men and women. Men pay in cash to get them and pay in cash to get rid of them. Women pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedy-lamarr/it-s-funny-about-men-and-women-men-pay-in-cash-to-get-them-and-pay-in/) [Hedy Lamarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedy-lamarr/) > [ I mean, you take a look at this, it's one way. \[Mexicans\] get the jobs, they get the factories, they get the cash, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-mean-you-take-a-look-at-this-it-s-one-way-mexicans-get-the-jobs/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [It was really starting to get pathetic, everyday they would come in looking for one thing or another. 'Zach, can you give me some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/it-was-really-starting-to-get-pathetic-everyday-they-would-come-in/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [One of my officers said to me that Trinidad and Tobago is seen like an ATM card... you come in with the card and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamla-persad-bissessar/one-of-my-officers-said-to-me-that-trinidad-and-tobago-is-seen-like/) [Kamla Persad-Bissessar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamla-persad-bissessar/) Browse all 1,141 Cash quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Morality is either a social contract or you have to pay cash.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stanislaw Jerzy Lec" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/morality-is-either-a-social-contract-or-you-have-to-pay-cash/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cash" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/morality-is-either-a-social-contract-or-you-have-to-pay-cash/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/stanislaw-jerzy-lec-3312_cash_morality-is-either-a-social-contract-or_1731418.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/stanislaw-jerzy-lec-3312_cash_morality-is-either-a-social-contract-or_1731418.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/stanislaw-jerzy-lec-3312_cash_morality-is-either-a-social-contract-or_1731418.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Morality is either a social contract or you have to pay cash.” — Stanislaw Jerzy Lec", "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": "Stanislaw Jerzy Lec", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Morality is either a social contract...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/morality-is-either-a-social-contract-or-you-have-to-pay-cash/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/morality-is-either-a-social-contract-or-you-have-to-pay-cash/#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 } } ] } ```