WIST Quotations

Democritus -- Frag. 62 (Diels) [tr. Freeman (1948)]

Dave — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 20:02:11 +0000

Virtue consists, not in avoiding wrong-doing, but in having no wish thereto.

[Ἀγαθὸν οὐ τὸ μὴ ἀδικεῖν, ἀλλὰ τὸ μηδὲ ἐθέλειν.]

Democritus (c. 460 BC - c. 370 BC) Greek philosopher
Frag. 62 (Diels) [tr. Freeman (1948)]
(Source)

Original Greek. Diels cites this as "62. ( 38 N.) DEMOKRATES. 27" ; collected in Joannes Stobaeus (Stobaios) Anthologium III, 9, 29. Bakewell lists this under "The Golden Sayings of Democritus." Freeman notes this as one of the Gnômae, from a collection called "Maxims of Democratês," but because Stobaeus quotes many of these as "Maxims of Democritus," they are generally attributed to the latter.

Alternate translations:

"To be good is not only not to do an injury, but not so much as to desire to do one." [tr. Clarke (1750), Democrates, "Ethica."]
"Good means not [merely] not to do wrong, but rather not to desire to do wrong.: [tr. Bakewell (1907)]
"To be good is not to refrain from wrongdoing but not even to want to commit it." [tr. Barnes (1987)]
"It is not good to not commit injustice, but rather to not desire to." [tr. @sententiq (2018), frag. 61]
"Virtue consists not in avoiding wrongdoing, but in having no desire for it." [Source]

Franklin, Benjamin -- Letter to Joseph Huey (6 Jun 1753)

Dave — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:16:20 +0000

The worship of God is a Duty; the hearing and reading of Sermons may be useful; but, if Men rest in Hearing and Praying, as too many do, it is as if a Tree should Value itself on being water’d and putting forth Leaves, tho’ it never produc’d any Fruit.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Letter to Joseph Huey (6 Jun 1753)
(Source)

Guiterman, Arthur -- “Of Duty” (1924)

Dave — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 14:50:56 +0000

When “Do no Evil” has been understood,
Then learn the harder, braver rule, “Do Good.”

Arthur Guiterman (1871-1943) American poet, humorist
“Of Duty” (1924)