Quotes About Virtue

When a man is getting worse, he understands his own badness less and less. A moderately bad man knows he is not very good: a thoroughly bad man thinks he is all right . . . Good people know about both good and evil: bad people do not know about either.

Now a regular occurrence in the eighteenth century repeats itself: the aristocracy accepts the viewpoint and standards of value of the middle class; virtue becomes a fashion in the upper class.

In het algemeen wordt passiviteit te weinig als deugd erkent. Actie lijk altijd beter - want heroïscher - dan rustig afwachten en nietsdoen. Vermoedelijk komt dat ook omdat wij vrijwel allemaal neuroten zijn die de leegte willen opvullen met werk en andere activiteiten.

Why care for grammar as long as we are good?

The source of morality must be moral.

So, being a good man is not an exam or a qualification, it changes, and it incorporates being a good friend, a good father, a good employee, a good boss, a good neighbour and a good citizen.

Innocence in genius, and candor in power, are both noble qualities.

Physical qualities don't really matter much.

The highest qualities of character... must be earned.

I think it's important for politicians to have moral qualities.

Modesty is my best quality.

Quality in a classical Greek sense is how to live with grace and intelligence, with bravery and mercy.

My feeling is that the hero has now been defined by phrases like the odious one that we were all raised with - crimes does not pay. Of course it pays, you schmuck. That's not why we don't do it. We don't do it because it is wrong.

I was raised to understand and know the difference between right and wrong.

Do not gain basely; base gain is equal to ruin.

People who think they're generous to a fault usually think that's their only fault.

I guess I'm way too kind and generous, and a saint - if you can believe that!

Be just before you are generous.

She's generous to a fault - if it's her own.

I want to play good characters, not glamorous ones.

He will have true glory who despises it.

I can make a lord, but only God can make a gentleman.

The majority of my life is spent doing nothing but godly things, especially when it comes to dealing with other people.

From my example learn to be just, and not to despise the gods.