--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rational moral choices are based on the…" description: "\"“Rational moral choices are based on the value of life, not a consensus. A consensus can’t make the sun rise at midnight, nor can it change a wrong int..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0f/terry-goodkind-924_character_rational-moral-choices-are-based-on-the_2914718.jpg" --- # Rational moral choices are based on the value of life, not… ![“Rational moral choices are based on the value of life, not a consensus. A consensus can’t make the sun rise at midnight, nor can it change a wrong into a right, or the other way around. If something is wrong, it matters not if a thousand other men are for it; you must still oppose it. If something…” quote by Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0f/terry-goodkind-924_character_rational-moral-choices-are-based-on-the_2914718.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0f/terry-goodkind-924_character_rational-moral-choices-are-based-on-the_2914718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0f/terry-goodkind-924_character_rational-moral-choices-are-based-on-the_2914718.jpg) > ““Rational moral choices are based on the value of life, not a consensus. A consensus can’t make the sun rise at midnight, nor can it change a wrong into a right, or the other way around. If something is wrong, it matters not if a thousand other men are for it; you must still oppose it. If something is just, no amount of popular outcry should stay you from your course.”” [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral decisions should be grounded in the intrinsic value of life, not in majority opinion; truth is independent of popular belief. **In simple terms:** Right actions depend on life’s value, not consensus. Key Takeaway Stand by truth despite popular pressure. Themes ethics individualism truth Mood determined reflective Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - political activism - legal judgments - personal dilemmas - social movements Key Concepts moral philosophy value theory Questions to Reflect On - Do you follow the crowd or your conscience? - How can you act ethically when isolated? A Different Perspective Popular opinion can be persuasive but may mask injustice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Consensus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consensus/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Consensus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-consensus-4216012/) [Moral choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-choices/) [Rational Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-moral-1836746/) [Sun rise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun-rise/) [Value Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-life/) [Value of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [Being rational is a moral Imperative. You should never be stupider than you need to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/being-rational-is-a-moral-imperative-you-should-never-be-stupider/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [It is man's intrinsic and irreducible self-responsibility to humanize himself, to exercise his entire range of rational and moral resources to raise his mode…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/it-is-man-s-intrinsic-and-irreducible-self-responsibility-to-humanize/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [“it is impossible to begin investigation without assumptions, for they all are founded on ideas and canons which have their basis in the rational…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/it-is-impossible-to-begin-investigation-without-assumptions-for-they/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [Being able and willing to complain is what makes us rational and moral animals, capable of seeing and articulating the difference between how things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/being-able-and-willing-to-complain-is-what-makes-us-rational-and/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [Life and Time are amazing teachers, life teaches us to make good use of time and time teaches us the value of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-and-time-are-amazing-teachers-life-teaches-us-to-make-good-use/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your value in life is determined by the problems you solve through your gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/your-value-in-life-is-determined-by-the-problems-you-solve-through/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [If you appreciate the value of life, you dont joke about death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-appreciate-the-value-of-life-you-dont-joke-about-death/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The value of life itself cannot be estimated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-value-of-life-itself-cannot-be-estimated/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I hold the value of life is to improve one's condition. 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Life teaches us to make good use of time, while time teaches us the value of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-and-time-are-world-s-two-teachers-life-teaches-us-to-make-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I consistently encounter people in academic settings and scientists and journalists who feel that you can't say that anyone is wrong in any deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/i-consistently-encounter-people-in-academic-settings-and-scientists/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“The great value of life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-truslow-adams/the-great-value-of-life-is-to-spend-it-on-something-that-will-outlast/) [James Truslow Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-truslow-adams/) > [The value of life doesnt depend on the length of time on this earth. But rather on the amount of love given and shared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldyna-threesya/the-value-of-life-doesnt-depend-on-the-length-of-time-on-this-earth/) [Aldyna Threesya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldyna-threesya/) > [The value of life does not depend upon the place we occupy. It depends upon the way we occupy that place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/therese-of-lisieux/the-value-of-life-does-not-depend-upon-the-place-we-occupy-it-depends/) [Therese of Lisieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/therese-of-lisieux/) ## More by Terry Goodkind > [Sometimes, it is necessary to step beyond what you have known and to reach for something more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/sometimes-it-is-necessary-to-step-beyond-what-you-have-known-and-to/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“It should hurt, shouldn’t it? Shouldn’t it hurt to be ripped in half? But it didn’t. It didn’t hurt the least little bit. Cold.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/it-should-hurt-shouldn-t-it-shouldn-t-it-hurt-to-be-ripped-in-half/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [Dancing with death meant being committed to killing, committed with your heart and soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/dancing-with-death-meant-being-committed-to-killing-committed-with/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [Only a fool walks into the future backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/only-a-fool-walks-into-the-future-backwards/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“Sometimes it's more important to seize the chance and do what you can even knowing that it won't likely account for everything, that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/sometimes-it-s-more-important-to-seize-the-chance-and-do-what-you-can/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“While it was understandable to be afraid, and no one would expect you not to be, the worst thing you could do was to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/while-it-was-understandable-to-be-afraid-and-no-one-would-expect-you/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“Leadership is a nurturing of those under your command.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/leadership-is-a-nurturing-of-those-under-your-command/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“To question me once is a simple mistake, Lieutenant. Twice is treason. We execute traitors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/to-question-me-once-is-a-simple-mistake-lieutenant-twice-is-treason/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [Fate does not seek our consent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/fate-does-not-seek-our-consent/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [Wizard's Third Rule Passion rules reason, For better or for worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/wizard-s-third-rule-passion-rules-reason-for-better-or-for-worse/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“Nicci looked up at Kahlan. “Knives are not my talent.” “It’s not hard,” Kahlan said as she pressed the handle into Nicci’s hand. “When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/nicci-looked-up-at-kahlan-knives-are-not-my-talent-it-s-not-hard/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“This was why he couldn’t let Richard know it was the chimes themselves that were loose. Richard would not have accepted what Zedd intended,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/this-was-why-he-couldn-t-let-richard-know-it-was-the-chimes/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“price. There is no such thing as pure good or pure evil, least of all in people. In the best of us there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/price-there-is-no-such-thing-as-pure-good-or-pure-evil-least-of-all/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [The first step to believing something is true is wanting to believe it is true... or being afraid it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/the-first-step-to-believing-something-is-true-is-wanting-to-believe/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [...you'll find that being a friend is to like a person for who they are, even the parts you don't understand. You don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/you-ll-find-that-being-a-friend-is-to-like-a-person-for-who-they-are/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) [Explore all 323 Terry Goodkind quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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