Sister Carrie Morality and Ethics Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

He could not complicate his home life, because it might affect his relations with his employers. They wanted no scandals. A man, to hold his position, must have a dignified manner, a clean record, a respectable home anchorage. Therefore, he was circumspect in all he did […]. (9.47)

So here's a pretty ironic reason people act morally: to protect their own self-interest. Hurstwood's home life isn't at all that rosy, and the main reason he needs to keep it intact by avoiding scandal (i.e. you wouldn't catch Hurstwood tweeting half-naked pics of himself today) is so he can maintain his economically privileged lifestyle.

Quote #8

[Hurstwood] began to see the nature of that social injustice which sees but one side—often but a single point in a long tragedy. All the newspapers noted but one thing, his taking the money. How and wherefore were but indifferently dealt with. All the complications which led up to it were unknown. (29.110)

Is it wrong for the newspapers to report Hurstwood's crime without mentioning "all the complications" surrounding it?

Quote #9

Not evil, but longing for that which is better, more often directs the steps of the erring. (47.120)

Wow—so much of this novel is about Carrie's longing for what she doesn't have. We've seen how this makes her lonely and unhappy, and here the narrator is telling us straight up that it's indeed the source of many mistakes.