--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a moral, of course, and like all…" description: "\"There is a moral, of course, and like all morals it is better not pursued.\" — Sylvia Townsend Warner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/sylvia-townsend-warner-7063_character_there-is-a-moral-of-course-and-like-all_1522646.jpg" --- # There is a moral, of course, and like all morals it is… ![“There is a moral, of course, and like all morals it is better not pursued.” quote by Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/sylvia-townsend-warner-7063_character_there-is-a-moral-of-course-and-like-all_1522646.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/sylvia-townsend-warner-7063_character_there-is-a-moral-of-course-and-like-all_1522646.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/sylvia-townsend-warner-7063_character_there-is-a-moral-of-course-and-like-all_1522646.jpg) > “There is a moral, of course, and like all morals it is better not pursued.” [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that moral principles are often better left unexamined because they can lead to complications. **In simple terms:** Morals may cause trouble if pursued. Key Takeaway Question on the consequences of moral action. Themes ethics philosophy prudence Mood reflective skeptical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - political debate - personal decision making - legal frameworks Key Concepts moral relativism consequentialism Questions to Reflect On - Is it wiser to avoid moral judgments? - When do morals become obstacles? A Different Perspective Moral pursuits can create unintended harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Like Morals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-morals-2611965/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral Course](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-course-5631436/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Morals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morals/) [Morals Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morals-better-2996370/) [Pursued](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursued/) ## Related quotes > [My friends, I like them; my morals, I like them more!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-friends-i-like-them-my-morals-i-like-them-more/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I don't think that's healthy for the country when anyone thinks their morals are better than anyone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/i-don-t-think-that-s-healthy-for-the-country-when-anyone-thinks-their/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [Without religion, I believe that learning does real mischief to the morals and principles of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/without-religion-i-believe-that-learning-does-real-mischief-to-the/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [We have found that morals are not, like bacon, to be cured by hanging; nor, like wine, to be improved by sea voyages; nor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-found-that-morals-are-not-like-bacon-to-be-cured-by-hanging/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Because Christian morality leaves animals out of account, they are at once outlawed in philosophical morals; they are mere 'things,' mere means to any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/because-christian-morality-leaves-animals-out-of-account-they-are-at/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [In morals, always do as others do; in art, never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/in-morals-always-do-as-others-do-in-art-never/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [“By definition, a human being is endowed with free will. He can use this to choose between good and evil. If he can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/by-definition-a-human-being-is-endowed-with-free-will-he-can-use-this/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [The morals is...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-boone/the-morals-is/) [Sharon Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-boone/) > [Whatever may be the laws and customs of a country, women always give the tone to morals. Whether slaves or free, they reign, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aime-martin/whatever-may-be-the-laws-and-customs-of-a-country-women-always-give/) [Aime Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aime-martin/) > [A man may not transgress the bounds of major morals, but may make errors in minor morals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-man-may-not-transgress-the-bounds-of-major-morals-but-may-make/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Art and morality are, with certain provisos…one. Their essence is the same. The essence of both of them is love. Love is the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/art-and-morality-are-with-certain-provisos-one-their-essence-is-the/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [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/) > [“Jeg skal alltid handle slik at den regelen jeg handler etter kunne gjelde som allmenn lov.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/jeg-skal-alltid-handle-slik-at-den-regelen-jeg-handler-etter-kunne/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/without-morals-a-republic-cannot-subsist-any-length-of-time-they/) [Charles Carroll of Carrollton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/) > [Many men without morals have attacked religion because it was contrary to their inclinations. Many wise men have despised it because it seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/many-men-without-morals-have-attacked-religion-because-it-was/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) ## More by Sylvia Townsend Warner > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [Happiness is an immunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/happiness-is-an-immunity/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [I feel domesticity just slipping off me. It is a choice. Either one can let it go or one can intensify it. The people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/i-feel-domesticity-just-slipping-off-me-it-is-a-choice-either-one-can/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [ \[On an anarchist acquaintance:\] Everything in appearance the most alarmist aunt could wish. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/on-an-anarchist-acquaintance-everything-in-appearance-the-most/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [Spring is strictly sentimental, self-regarding; but I burn more careless in the autumn bonfire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/spring-is-strictly-sentimental-self-regarding-but-i-burn-more/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [“It is,” answered Laura with almost violent agreement. “If you are a were-wolf, and very likely you may be, for lots of people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/it-is-answered-laura-with-almost-violent-agreement-if-you-are-a-were/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [I have an idea that conscience impedes quite as many merits as faults, is a sort of alloy, a nickel which may prevent silver…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/i-have-an-idea-that-conscience-impedes-quite-as-many-merits-as-faults/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [There is a period in one's life - perhaps not longer than six months - when one lives in two worlds at once ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/there-is-a-period-in-one-s-life-perhaps-not-longer-than-six-months/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [Love is the only real patriation, and without one's dear one sits in a dreary and boring exile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/love-is-the-only-real-patriation-and-without-one-s-dear-one-sits-in-a/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [when the German propaganda tries to be winsome it is like a clown with homicidal mania - ludicrous and terrifying both at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/when-the-german-propaganda-tries-to-be-winsome-it-is-like-a-clown/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [It is best as one grows older to strip oneself of possessions, to shed oneself downward like a tree, to be almost wholly earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/it-is-best-as-one-grows-older-to-strip-oneself-of-possessions-to-shed/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [Elizabeth ... had the prerogative of the rich that she could be generous with large sums and niggardly over small ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/elizabeth-had-the-prerogative-of-the-rich-that-she-could-be-generous/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [Inflation is the senility of democracies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/inflation-is-the-senility-of-democracies/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [Total grief is like a minefield. No knowing when one will touch the tripwire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/total-grief-is-like-a-minefield-no-knowing-when-one-will-touch-the/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [How dreadful it is that because of our wills we can never love anything without messing it around! 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