Quotes About Virtue

My life of conversation leads me to reimagine the very meaning of hope. I define hope as distinct from optimism or idealism. It has nothing to do with wishing. It references reality at every turn and reveres truth. It lives open eyed and wholeheartedly with the darkness that is woven ineluctably into the light of life and sometimes seems to overcome it. Hope, like every virtue, is a choice that becomes a habit that becomes spiritual muscle memory.

Generous listening is powered by curiosity, a virtue we can invite and nurture in ourselves to render it instinctive. It involves a kind of vulnerability—a willingness to be surprised, to let go of assumptions and take in ambiguity. The listener wants to understand the humanity behind the words of the other, and patiently summons one's own best self and one's own best words and questions.

Hope, like every virtue, is a choice that becomes a practice that becomes spiritual muscle memory. It's a renewable resource for moving through life as it is, not as we wish it to be.

there are "near enemies" to every great virtue—reactions that come from a place of care in us, and which feel right and good, but which subtly take us down an ineffectual path.

after all, hospitality was a virtue, one of the highest in Mamma's esteem.

truth is the supreme virtue and an impregnable stronghold" * (p. 458).

The compass of compassion asks not what is good for me? but what is good? Not what is best for me but what is best. Not what is right for me but what is right. Not how much can we take? but How much ought we leave? and how much might we give? Not what is easy but what is worthy. Not what is practical but what is moral.

I'll not forget that day nor the message of the Christian church that we celebrate each death as an Easter, each dying as a living, each soul, no matter how poor or sinful, as the child of royalty. At its best, the church treats people as beings of eternal worth, no less at their dying than at their birth, no less in their sins than in their virtue, no less for one than for another.

He laughed, a low, sexy growl, as she moaned in obvious frustration. "Patience is a virtue," he said. "Torture is a federal offense," she replied.

non è il vestito bello che fa il signore, ma è piuttosto il vestito pulito.

There is a feeling of deep universalism, in the wake of the splendid words of Democritus: "To a wise man, the whole earth is open, because the true country of a virtuous soul is the entire universe.

To a wise man, the whole earth is open, because the true country of a virtuous soul is the entire universe.

In those days the worst vice in England was pride, I guess—the worst vice of all, because folks thought it was a virtue.

Virtue often is used to camouflage cowardice.

He realized this character trait, like most, cut both ways, and could be a virtue or a flaw, depending on the circumstances.

He realized this character trait, like most, cut both ways, and could be a virtue or a flaw, depending on the circumstances. At the moment, he felt it made him rather callous.

This is our task: be serene at all times, do not be vengeful, nor scorn your enemy; speak truthfully, befriend the virtuous, be equable in the face of disaster. Be aware that everything must pass, just as clouds arise, drift, and disperse, so do not seek to cling to anything.

One in whom goodness is dominant moves through the world as a swan does through water, never drenched or dragged down, but rather buoyant, tranquil, treating all experience equally. That person generates virtue as a spider spins its threads. Such a person knows true happiness.

Why is it that STUPIDITY is not one of the Deadly Sins?

The French thinker Francois de La Rochefoucauld proclaimed: "Hypocrisy is the tribute vice pays to virtue."7 If the Rule of Law sometimes produces hypocrisy, at least we know what counts as vice and what counts as virtue.

It is not the same thing to be good and to be kind.

Though sages may pour out their wisdom's treasure, there is no sterner moralist then Pleasure.

Unquestioning obedience is hailed as a great virtue only by those leaders whose commands are highly questionable.

Honesty, not modesty, is a virtue.