There is a tendency to think that if we engage too directly with moral questions in politics, that's a recipe for disagreement, and for that matter, a recipe for intolerance and coercion.

The way things are does not determine the way they ought to be

Self-knowledge is like lost innocence; however unsettling you find it, it can never be 'unthought' or 'unknown'.

The simplest way of understanding justice is giving people what they deserve. This idea goes back to Aristotle. The real difficulty begins with figuring out who deserves what and why.

Democracy does not require perfect equality, but it does require that citizens share in a common life.

To argue about justice is unavoidably to argue about virtues, about substantive moral and even spiritual questions.

Whether you're a libertarian liberal or a more egalitarian liberal, the idea is that justice means being non-judgmental with respect to the preferences people bring to public life.

I think too often in our society parents, who may have good impulses, overreach and try to mold and shape and direct their child.

Aiming at giving our kids a competitive edge in a consumer society - that, in principle, is a goal that is limitless.

You can't go wrong with fish and chips.

What intrigued me most was not the technology as such but the questions about the human goods, the fundamental human values and virtues that are raised by debates over biotechnology.

Genocide is the responsibility of the entire world.

The sarcasm made a slight whistling noise as it flew over Loafers' head.

We might all be so afraid to be who we are, but in the end, it's really you're individual, unique qualities that make you attractive to people.

I'm always looking for something new and interesting to say. And it can't be something I'm directly experiencing.

Freedom is just another word for when you have NOTHING left to lose.

Kevin refilled my plastic cup with more box wine. I smiled thanks. Kevin smiled welcome. Jake kicked my ankle.

This mental space is occupied and everything is mine.

Keep in mind, when you hit rock bottom, there ain't nowhere to go but up, baby.

Perhaps God waits for us to be empty, so he may fill us with himself.

My name is Ryan White. I am sixteen years old. I have hemophilia, and I have AIDS.