moral compasses
Internal right-wrong sensors
A moral compass is the internal sense that guides a person toward right and wrong.
The metaphor treats ethical judgment like a navigation instrument—something that keeps you oriented when choices become difficult.
Someone with a strong moral compass acts with integrity; someone who lacks one drifts into questionable behavior: His moral compass pointed him away from the deal.
The plural appears when discussing different people's ethical frameworks: Their moral compasses don't always align.
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- valuesPrinciples held worthwhile
- right and wrongEthical distinction
- conscienceInternal moral sense
judgment · good judgment · honesty · rectitude · north star · virtue · whistleblowing · honor · decency · straight and narrow · guiding light · integrity · role models · self-reflection · upbringing · decision-making · ethical dilemmas · doing the right thing
moral compasseslaws
Enforceable societal rules
rules · legal codes · blind obedience · commandments · statutes
moral compassesmoral bankruptcy
Utter lack of principles
amorality · moral blindness · directionlessness · valuelessness · anomie
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