virtue quotes

Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful.

Allah’s the Arabic term for God. Stand up for God, fight for God, work for God and do the right thing, and go the right way, things will end up in your corner.

Moderation has been called a virtue to limit the ambition of great men, and to console undistinguished people for their want of fortune and their lack of merit.

In truth, politeness is artificial good humor, it covers the natural want of it, and ends by rendering habitual a substitute nearly equivalent to the real virtue.

There is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents.

Chastity does not mean abstention from sexual wrong; it means something flaming, like Joan of Arc.

Man seems to be capable of great virtues but not of small virtues; capable of defying his torturer but not of keeping his temper.

Most dangerous is that temptation that doth goad us on to sin in loving virtue.

Happiness is a virtue, not its reward.

Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.

Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.

For peace is not mere absence of war, but is a virtue that springs from, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.

True virtue is life under the direction of reason.

The endeavor to understand is the first and only basis of virtue.

A more secret, sweet, and overpowering beauty appears to man when his heart and mind open to the sentiment of virtue.

Virtue consists, not in abstaining from vice, but in not desiring it.

Virtue itself scapes not calumnious strokes.

Blessedness is not the reward of virtue but virtue itself.

There is a blessed necessity by which the interest of men is always driving them to the right; and, again, making all crime mean and ugly.

Wisdom has its root in goodness, not goodness its root in wisdom.

Modesty is not only an ornament, but also a guard to virtue.

The Scoutmaster who is a hero to his boys holds a powerful lever to their development but at the same time brings a great responsibility on himself. They are quick enough to see the smallest characteristic about him, whether it be a virtue or a vice.

One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.

Peace is not the absence of war, but a virtue based on strength of character.

Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained.

Only on paper has humanity yet achieved glory, beauty, truth, knowledge, virtue, and abiding love.

Suspicion is not less an enemy to virtue than to happiness; he that is already corrupt is naturally suspicious, and he that becomes suspicious will quickly be corrupt.

Love means to love that which is unlovable; or it is no virtue at all.

Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think.

Virtue is insufficient temptation.

Skepticism is a virtue in history as well as in philosophy.

Gratitude is a duty which ought to be paid, but which none have a right to expect.

Moderation is a virtue only in those who are thought to have an alternative.

Sweet mercy is nobility’s true badge.

It is dangerous for mortal beauty, or terrestrial virtue, to be examined by too strong a light. The torch of Truth shows much that we cannot, and all that we would not, see.

What is virtue but the Trade Unionism of the married?

When virtue is lost, benevolence appears, when benevolence is lost right conduct appears, when right conduct is lost, expedience appears. Expediency is the mere shadow of right and truth; it is the beginning of disorder.

Virtue is a state of war, and to live in it we have always to combat with ourselves.

Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.

Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.

What can everyone do? Praise and blame. This is human virtue, this is human madness.

A just and reasonable modesty does not only recommend eloquence, but sets off every great talent which a man can be possessed of.

A tragic situation exists precisely when virtue does not triumph but when it is still felt that man is nobler than the forces which destroy him.

This life, which had been the tomb of his virtue and of his honour, is but a walking shadow; a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Recommend virtue to your children; it alone, not money, can make them happy. I speak from experience.

Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.

The strength of a man’s virtue should not be measured by his special exertions, but by his habitual acts.

God is the same God, always and everywhere. He is omnipresent not virtually only, but also substantially, for virtue cannot subsist without substance.

A man must be both stupid and uncharitable who believes there is no virtue or truth but on his own side.

To realize that you do not understand is a virtue; Not to realize that you do not understand is a defect.

If you can be well without health, you may be happy without virtue.

Judges ought to be more leaned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue.

All the gold which is under or upon the earth is not enough to give in exchange for virtue.

Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.

Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.

We should every night call ourselves to an account: what infirmity have I mastered today? what passions opposed? what temptation resisted? what virtue acquired? Our vices will abate of themselves if they be brought every day to the shrift.

Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.

There is no austerity equal to a balanced mind, and there is no happiness equal to contentment; there is no disease like covetousness, and no virtue like mercy.

No evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death.

Knowledge becomes evil if the aim be not virtuous.