Quotes About Virtue

There is no such thing as observing a mean in excess or deficiency, nor as exceeding or falling short in observance of a mean.

All virtue is summed up in dealing justly.

For to nothing does a stability of human results attach so much as it does to the workings in the way of virtue, since these are held to be more abiding even than the sciences: and of these last again the most precious are the most abiding, because the blessed live in them most and most continuously, which seems to be the reason why they are not forgotten.

Life in accordance with intellect is best and pleasantest, since this, more than anything else, constitutes humanity.

At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law & justice he is the worst.

By the way, a question is sometimes raised, whether the moral choice or the actions have most to do with Virtue, since it consists in both: it is plain that the perfection of virtuous action requires both: but for the actions many things are required, and the greater and more numerous they are the more.)

good character is the indispensable condition and chief determinant of happiness, itself the goal of all human doing.

the Good of Man comes to be "a working of the Soul in the way of Excellence," or, if Excellence admits of degrees, in the way of the best and most perfect Excellence.

Not in depraved things, but in those well oriented according to nature, are we to consider what is natural.

The life of active virtue is essentially pleasant.

Happiness is at once the best, the noblest, and the pleasantest of things.

Again, it is for the sake of the soul that goods external and goods of the body are eligible at all, and all wise men ought to choose them for the sake of the soul, and not the soul for the sake of them.

The actions from which [virtue] was produced are also those in which it is exercised.

Again, Practical Wisdom and Excellence of the Moral character are very closely united; since the Principles of Practical Wisdom are in accordance with the Moral Virtues and these are right when they accord with Practical Wisdom.

Not every action or emotion however admits of the observance of a due mean

One can with but moderate possessions do what one ought.

Nor is he liberal who gives with pain; for he would prefer the wealth to the noble act, and this is not characteristic of a liberal man. But no more will the liberal man take from wrong sources; for such taking is not characteristic of the man who sets no store by wealth.

Any polis which is truly so called, and is not merely one in name, must devote itself to the end of encouraging goodness. Otherwise, political association sinks into a mere alliance.

Happiness, then, extends as far as contemplation, and the more contemplation there is in one's life, the happier one is, not incidentally, but in virtue of the contemplation, since this is honourable in itself. Happiness, therefore, will be some form of contemplation.

But in all cases we must guard most carefully against what is pleasant, and pleasure itself, because we are not impartial judges of it.

which we call men [Greek: euyvomoves], or say they have

Happiness requires both complete goodness and a complete lifetime.

None of the moral virtues is engendered in us by nature, for no natural property can be altered by habit.

Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas