GOOD & EVIL
[O]ur leaders do not mean well. They do not have any noble goals of democracy and freedom and all that jazz.... And as long as an American believes that the intentions are noble and honorable, it's very difficult to penetrate that wall.—William Blum, author and critic of American foreign policy
I would have worked with the devil himself if he'd been for the six hour day and worker control of the hiring hall.—Harry Bridges
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.—Edmund Burke (attributed)
Can anything be imagined more abhorrent to every sentiment of generosity and justice, than the law which arms the rich with the legal right to fix, by assize, the wages of the poor? If this is not slavery, we have forgotten its definition. Strike the right of associating for the sale of labor from the privileges of a freeman, and you may as well bind him to a master, or ascribe him to the soil.—William Cullen Bryant
I don't know what word in the English language - I can't find one - applies to people who are willing to sacrifice the literal existence of organized human life so they can put a few more dollars into highly stuffed pockets; the word "evil" doesn't even begin to approach it.—Noam Chomsky
The superior person understands rightness; the inferior person understands profit.— Confucius
The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt.— John Philpot Curran
The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.—Albert Einstein
History has a long-range perspective. It ultimately passes stern judgment on tyrants and vindicates those who fought, suffered, were imprisoned, and died for human freedom, against political oppression and economic slavery.—Elizabeth Gurley Flynn
The topdog may win the game of force. But not the moral issue - and when that dawns upon him and his allies, change of consciousness sets in, and demoralization starts thawing the frozen heart. The game is over.—Dr. Johan Galtung
Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.—Goethe
What is hateful to you, do not do to another. That is the whole of the Law, all else is commentary.—Rabbi Hillel
Each of us has the power to be good or to be evil. That choice is yours and yours alone. The tragedy of our world is not that so many have chosen to be evil, but that so few have made any choice at all. —Martin Johns, Red Bank Local, APWU
I learned in the early part of my career that labor must bear the cross for others' sins, must be the vicarious sufferer for the wrongs that others do.—Mother Jones
The time is always right to do what is right.-- Martin Luther King, Jr.
We must learn that passively to accept an unjust system is to cooperate with that system, and thereby to become a participant in its evil.-- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.-- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Men must be aggressive for what is right if government is to be saved from men who are aggressive for what is wrong.—Robert M. LaFollette, Sr.
We're the good guys. We get to wear the white hats.—Moe Lepore, President Boston Metro Area Local APWU
Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.—Abraham Lincoln
Never descend to the ways of those above you.-- George Mallaby
Truth is found in the hands of the fool. Peace in the hands of the fearless.—blogger, poet, G20 protester, etc. "Onu Oremun" ("numero uno" backwards)
Power is not a means; it is an end... The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power.—George Orwell (1984)
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face--forever.--George Orwell (1984)
Art thou less a slave by being favoured by thy master? Thou art indeed well off, slave. Thy master favours thee; he will soon beat thee.-- Pascal, Pensees, 1670
The labor movement means just this: It is the last noble protest of the American people against the power of incorporated wealth.— Wendell Phillips
Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.-- Plato
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.-- Plato
I have been to the darkest corners of government, and what they fear is light.—Edward Snowden, American whistleblower and patriot
Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live. —Socrates
If all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart.—Socrates
Nothing can harm a good man, either in life or after death.—Socrates
The only antidote to dangerous ideas is strong alternatives vigorously advocated. —Lawrence Summers, President of Harvard University
I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.—Jonathan Swift
I would have worked with the devil himself if he'd been for the six hour day and worker control of the hiring hall.—Harry Bridges
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.—Edmund Burke (attributed)
Can anything be imagined more abhorrent to every sentiment of generosity and justice, than the law which arms the rich with the legal right to fix, by assize, the wages of the poor? If this is not slavery, we have forgotten its definition. Strike the right of associating for the sale of labor from the privileges of a freeman, and you may as well bind him to a master, or ascribe him to the soil.—William Cullen Bryant
I don't know what word in the English language - I can't find one - applies to people who are willing to sacrifice the literal existence of organized human life so they can put a few more dollars into highly stuffed pockets; the word "evil" doesn't even begin to approach it.—Noam Chomsky
The superior person understands rightness; the inferior person understands profit.— Confucius
The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt.— John Philpot Curran
The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.—Albert Einstein
History has a long-range perspective. It ultimately passes stern judgment on tyrants and vindicates those who fought, suffered, were imprisoned, and died for human freedom, against political oppression and economic slavery.—Elizabeth Gurley Flynn
The topdog may win the game of force. But not the moral issue - and when that dawns upon him and his allies, change of consciousness sets in, and demoralization starts thawing the frozen heart. The game is over.—Dr. Johan Galtung
Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.—Goethe
What is hateful to you, do not do to another. That is the whole of the Law, all else is commentary.—Rabbi Hillel
Each of us has the power to be good or to be evil. That choice is yours and yours alone. The tragedy of our world is not that so many have chosen to be evil, but that so few have made any choice at all. —Martin Johns, Red Bank Local, APWU
I learned in the early part of my career that labor must bear the cross for others' sins, must be the vicarious sufferer for the wrongs that others do.—Mother Jones
The time is always right to do what is right.-- Martin Luther King, Jr.
We must learn that passively to accept an unjust system is to cooperate with that system, and thereby to become a participant in its evil.-- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.-- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Men must be aggressive for what is right if government is to be saved from men who are aggressive for what is wrong.—Robert M. LaFollette, Sr.
We're the good guys. We get to wear the white hats.—Moe Lepore, President Boston Metro Area Local APWU
Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.—Abraham Lincoln
Never descend to the ways of those above you.-- George Mallaby
Truth is found in the hands of the fool. Peace in the hands of the fearless.—blogger, poet, G20 protester, etc. "Onu Oremun" ("numero uno" backwards)
Power is not a means; it is an end... The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power.—George Orwell (1984)
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face--forever.--George Orwell (1984)
Art thou less a slave by being favoured by thy master? Thou art indeed well off, slave. Thy master favours thee; he will soon beat thee.-- Pascal, Pensees, 1670
The labor movement means just this: It is the last noble protest of the American people against the power of incorporated wealth.— Wendell Phillips
Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.-- Plato
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.-- Plato
I have been to the darkest corners of government, and what they fear is light.—Edward Snowden, American whistleblower and patriot
Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live. —Socrates
If all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart.—Socrates
Nothing can harm a good man, either in life or after death.—Socrates
The only antidote to dangerous ideas is strong alternatives vigorously advocated. —Lawrence Summers, President of Harvard University
I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.—Jonathan Swift