Quotes
Quotes about Virtue
In virtues nothing earthly could surpass her,
Save thine "incomparable oil," Macassar!
Power, like a desolating pestilence,
Pollutes whate'er it touches; and obedience,
Bane of all genius, virtue, freedom, truth,
Makes slaves of men, and of the human frame
A mechanized automaton.
The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs.
The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.
The virtues of society are the vices of the saints.
To be discontented with the divine discontent, and to be ashamed with the noble shame, is the very germ of the first upgrowth of all virtue.
If there be no nobility of descent, all the more indispensable is it that there should be nobility of ascent,--a character in them that bear rule so fine and high and pure that as men come within the circle of its influence they involuntarily pay homage to that which is the one pre-eminent distinction, the royalty of virtue.
To wipe off the froth of falsehood from the foaming lips of inebriated virtue, when fresh from the sexless orgies of morality and reeling from the delirious riot of religion, may doubtless be a charitable office.
Badness, look you, you may choose easily in a heap: level is the path, and right near it dwells. But before Virtue the immortal gods have put the sweat of man's brow; and long and steep is the way to it, and rugged at the first.
Silver and gold are not the only coin; virtue too passes current all over the world.
Successful and fortunate crime is called virtue.
We give to necessity the praise of virtue.
Nobility is the one only virtue.
The most glorious exploits do not always furnish us with the clearest discoveries of virtue or vice in men.
The very spring and root of honesty and virtue lie in the felicity of lighting on good education.
Have in readiness this saying of Solon, "But we will not give up our virtue in exchange for their wealth."
The happiness and unhappiness of the rational, social animal depends not on what he feels but on what he does; just as his virtue and vice consist not in feeling but in doing.
That virtue was sufficient of herself for happiness.
He used to define justice as "a virtue of the soul distributing that which each person deserved."
The chief good he has defined to be the exercise of virtue in a perfect life.
Once he saw a youth blushing, and addressed him, "Courage, my boy! that is the complexion of virtue."
One ought to seek out virtue for its own sake, without being influenced by fear or hope, or by any external influence. Moreover, that in that does happiness consist.
The spiritual virtue of a sacrament is like light,--although it passes among the impure, it is not polluted.
Others made a virtue of necessity.
She [virtue] requires a rough and stormy passage; she will have either outward difficulties to wrestle with, ... or internal difficulties.
