Quote

History and experience tell us that moral progress comes not in comfortable and complacent times, but out of trial and confusion.

Growth and comfort do not coexist.

The higher the building the lower the morals.

We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't.

Morality in its noblest forms remains inexplicable unless one takes into account that power of growth in the human soul which has led generation after generation from lower religious and ethical standards to higher ones which often clash with worldly advantages.

If our moral attitudes are entirely the result of nonrational factors, such as gut feelings and the absorption of cultural norms, they should either be stable or randomly drift over time, like skirt lengths or the widths of ties. They shouldn't show systematic change over human history. But they do.

Morality is a private and costly luxury.

There's nothing that will change someone's moral outlook quicker than cash in large sums.

My basis of morality is this: does this action enhance life, or does it denigrate life? Does it build up or does it tear down?

We are naturally moral beings, but our environments can enhance - or, sadly, degrade - this innate moral sense.