Quotes About Virtue

Humility is a good estate; founded thereon, the whole spiritual edifice grows into a holy temple in the Lord. Through humility, some have even possessed the gates of their enemies. For which of the virtues is so mighty to subdue the pride of demons and the tyranny of men?

I will govern my life and thoughts as if the whole world were to see the one and read the other, for what does it signify to make anything a secret to my neighbor, when to God, who is the searcher of our hearts, all our privacies are open?

A man who always speaks the truth wholeheartedly is greater than those who do penance and deeds of charity.

There is a set of religious, or rather moral, writings which teach that virtue is the certain road to happiness, and vice to misery in this world. A very wholesome and comfortable doctrine, and to which we have but one objection, namely, that it is not true.

Perfection of moral virtue does not wholly take away the passions, but regulates them.

Whilst shame keeps its watch, virtue is not wholly extinguished in the heart; nor will moderation be utterly exiled from the minds of tyrants.

Things were easier for the old novelists who saw people all of a piece. Speaking generally, their heroes were good through and through, their villains wholly bad.

The virtue of some people consists wholly in condemning the vices in others.

There are men whom a happy disposition, a strong desire of glory and esteem, inspire with the same love for justice and virtue which men in general have for riches and honors... But the number of these men is so small that I only mention them in honor of humanity.

There are a handful of people whom money won't spoil, and we all count ourselves among them.

Fairest and best adorned is she Whose clothing is humility.

No man can purchase his virtue too dear, for it is the only thing whose value must ever increase with the price it has cost us. Our integrity is never worth so much as when we have parted with our all to keep it.

In fact, it is a farce to call any being virtuous whose virtues do not result from the exercise of its own reason.

If we can show the good side of people, then why not?

A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.

Virtue is persecuted more by the wicked than it is loved by the good.

Wicked people are always surprised to find ability in those that are good.

To err is human; but contrition felt for the crime distinguishes the virtuous from the wicked.

The most High approveth not the gifts of the wicked.

Our goodness comes solely from thinking on goodness; our wickedness from thinking on wickedness. We too are the victims of our own contemplation.

Wickedness never did, never does, never will bring us happiness.

Jesus' life as a foot-washing servant would eventually lead to the adoption of humility as a widely admired virtue.

Conservatism vests in and depends on the widespread, informed understanding of human nature, self-governance and the First Principle of Progress: free people interacting in free markets produce the greatest good for the greatest number always, but only, when tethered to virtue and morality.

I have an aunt named Ida. She's the widow of my late Uncle Basil, nearly 100 years old, and very religious, and has managed to live her extremely long and virtuous life out of the pitiless public spotlight.