How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
I hope you will grow up gentle and good, and never learn bad ways; do your work with a good will, lift your feet up well when you trot, and never bite or kick even in play. (1.6)
Beauty's mom Duchess gives her son many words of wisdom in their short time together, and Beauty remembers them all. It's safe to say that he places a higher value on her principles and morals than anything else in his life.
Quote #2
She told me the better I behaved, the better I should be treated, and that it was wisest always to do my best to please my master. (3.13)
More lessons from Duchess, something Beauty takes to heart. Even when his life becomes unbearably hard, Beauty always follows this code of conduct above all other things.
Quote #3
It is all a chance for us; but still I say, do your best wherever it is, and keep up your good name. (3.13)
Here's another memorable lesson from Duchess: No matter what, keep your name well-respected. Why is this principle important? Think about it: Horses are powerless, and they own nothing of their own. The only things horses have that really belong to them are their names and their reputations. No wonder this is a lesson Duchess wants Beauty to learn.
Quote #4
Remember, we shall all have to be judged according to our works, whether they be toward man or toward beast. (11.7)
When Squire Gordon sees another man, Mr. Sawyer, whip a pony, he berates him for abusing his animal, but more than that, he reminds Sawyer of a moral lesson. Squire Gordon's principles and morals are clearly never far from his thoughts, and he doesn't hesitate to share them.
Quote #5
"Good Luck is rather particular who she rides with, and mostly prefers those who have got common sense and a good heart; at least, that is my experience." (35.48)
Jerry Barker's a guy that sticks to his principles, and hopefully he'll end up with a friend like Good Luck because of it. When he refuses to drive his cab on Sundays, he does it because he believes in the common sense idea of a day of rest. He won't let money sway him, even though his family needs it. And yet, he still has a good heart.
Quote #6
"[…] every man must look after his own soul. You can't lay it down at another man's door like a foundling, and expect him to take care of it." (36.27)
So why are principles so important? Because, as Jerry Barker explains to his fellow cabbies, every man is responsible for his own behavior. It's not up to anyone else—it's up to each individual person to live a good life, and according to Jerry, sticking to strong moral principles is a big part of that.
Quote #7
"If a thing is right, it can be done, and if it is wrong, it can be done without; and a good man will find a way. And that is as true for us cabmen as it is for the churchgoers." (36.29)
The devout Jerry Barker gives us a lot of moral lectures in this book; he's one principled guy. Here's another strong belief from Jerry, a gem of wisdom that sounds like something from a sermon. Which isn't surprising, because Jerry's a big fan of going to church.
Quote #8
"My doctrine is this, that if we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt." (38.17)
Something that comes up over and over again in Black Beauty is the idea of taking action when we see something that's not right. It's safe to say that this was probably a strong principle of Anna Sewell's since she gives us several anecdotes about the importance of getting involved.
Quote #9
"An election is a very serious thing; at least it ought to be, and every man ought to vote according to his conscience, and let his neighbour do the same." (42.17)
Here's another reminder about the importance of speaking up: Sewell includes an election in Beauty's story, and makes sure to let us know how crucial it is to vote. So not only is it important to follow your own moral code, it's also important to stand up for those views.