183 Quotes by Reinhold Niebuhr

The measure of our rationality determines the degree of vividness with which we appreciate the needs of other life, the extent to which we become conscious of the real character of our own motives and impulses, the ability to harmonize conflicting impulses in our own life and in society, and the capacity to choose adequate means for approved ends.

Family life is too intimate to be preserved by the spirit of justice. It can be sustained by a spirit of love which goes beyond justice.

The cross symbolizes a cosmic as well as historic truth. Love conquers the world, but its victory is not an easy one.

Evil is not to be traced back to the individual but to the collective behavior of humanity.

We take, and must continue to take, morally hazardous actions to preserve our civilization. We must exercise our power. But we ought neither to believe that a nation is capable of perfect disinterestedness in its exercise, nor become complacent about a particular degree of interest and passion which corrupt the justice by which the exercise of power is legitimatized.

Original sin is that thing about man which makes him capable of conceiving of his own perfection and incapable of achieving it.

While it is possible for intelligence to increase the range of benevolent impulse, and thus prompt a human being to consider the needs and rights of other than those to whom he is bound by organic and physical relationship, there are definite limits in the capacity of ordinary mortals which makes it impossible for them to grant to others what they claim for themselves.

Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in a lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope.

All men are naturally included to obscure the morally ambiguous element in their political cause by investing it with religious sanctity.