A paladin's ethos, from my Baldur's Gate fanfic:
You ask me how it is that I can judge? Am I so much holier than you that I might have the right to judge?
I tell you no, I am no more holier than you. I tell you that all have fallen short of the standard. Before the truth, both you and I are wretched as beggars before the king.
You ask, how can I judge you or anyone?
I tell you that I have not judged anyone. Mortals like to think that what they do in secret they cannot be judged for. But the judgement of the truth is clear and its light shines into the darkest hole. We have all been judged, I am not at fault if you think you can hide from your judgement.
The fool says, “If I am strong, then it is my right. For by strength alone is any act done and good and evil are just myths in which I do not believe!”
Good and evil are not myths. Truth is a mountain. At the top is good, rare and beauteous. At the bottom is evil, lost in shadow. The fool says “Who cares what is top and what is bottom? I refuse to climb the mountain. I will do as I please, do what is easiest, and go down the mountain.” I cannot stop your downward climb, but neither can I believe you when you say the view from the bottom is the same as at the top.
What then is a paladin? He is one of the strong, sworn to lend his strength to the weak. His is the path, not only to climb, but to assist the climbs that others make. To shield the climber from the rocks thrown from below. For that is the worst part of the evil of those who climb down the mountain is that they throw rocks to knock away the climbers above. This is the greatest evil one mortal may bear against another.
Lords and thieves contend over their laws, but this is rarely the combat of good against evil. The lord dwells in luxury and the thief starves. The lord makes no act of a good man. The thief breaks the law because he wants what the lord holds, he takes by force what is held by force. No good is found here.
You say, how can I act? But when do I act? An urchin steals bread because the hunger in his belly is greater than the fear of the guard. My sword does not fly. Two fools come to blows over insults traded with too much wine. This is not my battle. A wife calls her husband to account because he has been unfaithful. Though the treachery is dire, they must contend with themselves.
But when a thief or a bandit leaves children to starve because they are strong enough to steal the family's bread; when women are raped and mothers and fathers are slain to feed the “strong”; when evil is so clear that the smell of it is rank to the heavens, then I am the strength of the weak. All flesh is grass and I am the fire of truth.
I do not judge for the judgement is already plain as the noon sun in the desert. Evil may say “There is no evil, only strength.” Well I too am strong, fool, and I have seen from the top of the mountain, though I do not deserve to dwell there always. Dwell in shadow if you wish and say that there is no light. I have stood in the light and it is true.
Can you, by your strength, stop the sun? Neither can you stop the truth. The rapist, the murderer, let them fear. The day will come when the mountain is laid flat and all will be judged by where they fall. Until that day, I am the ranger on the mountain slope – I point the way to the top and I protect the climbers.
Go down, if you must, and mock, if you will. But I will allow none to starve or suffer because you have “strength”. This I have sworn.
_The words of Adamant the Inquisitor, Paladin sworn._
