Virtue is that perfect good which is the complement of a happy life; the only immortal thing that belongs to mortality.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Vice is a creature of such hideous mien… that the more you see it the better you like it.
—Finley Peter Dunne (1867–1936) American Author, Writer, Humorist
The deadliest foe to virtue would be complete self-knowledge.
—F. H. Bradley (1846–1924 ) British Idealist Philosopher
I cannot love anyone if I hate myself. That is the reason why we feel so extremely uncomfortable in the presence of people who are noted for their special virtuousness, for they radiate an atmosphere of the torture they inflict on themselves. That is not a virtue but a vice.
—Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) Swiss Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Philosopher
If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart.
—Buddhist Teaching
By what causes has so inconsiderable a beginning, as that of the colonies of New England, under such formidable, and apparently almost insurmountable difficulties, resulted, in so brief a period, in such mighty consequences? They are to be found in the high moral and intellectual qualities of the pilgrims: their faith, piety, and confident trust in a superintending Providence; their stern virtues; their patriotic love of liberty and order; their devotion to learning; and their indomitable courage and perseverance. These are the causes which surmounted every obstacle, and which have led to such mighty results.
—John C. Calhoun (1782–1850) American Head of State, Politician, Activist
I cannot praise a fugitive and cloistered virtue, unexercised and unbreathed, that never sallies out and sees her adversary. The virtue that knows not the utmost that vice promises to her followers, and rejects it, is but a blank virtue, not a pure.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
There are two things that declare, as with a voice from heaven, that he that fills that eternal throne must be on the side of virtue, and that which he befriends must finally prosper and prevail. The first is that the bad are never completely happy and at ease, although possessed of everything that this world can bestow; and that the good are never completely miserable, although deprived of everything that this world can take away. The second is that we are so framed and constituted that the most vicious cannot but pay a secret though unwilling homage to virtue, inasmuch as the worst men cannot bring themselves thoroughly to esteem a bad man, although he may be their dearest friend, nor can they thoroughly despise a good man, although he may be their bitterest enemy.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
What the great learning teaches, is to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
The most virtuous are those who content themselves with being virtuous without seeking to appear so.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
It is the edge and temper of the blade that make a good sword, not the richness of the scabbard; and so it is not money or possessions that make man considerable, but his virtue.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
I am no herald to inquire of men’s pedigrees; it sufficeth me if I know their virtues.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
The person who talks most of his own virtue is often the least virtuous.
—Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) Indian Head of State
Let nothing be done in your life, which will cause you fear if it becomes known to your neighbor.
—Epicurus (c.341–270 BCE) Greek Philosopher
Unless the reformer can invent something which substitutes attractive virtues for attractive vices, he will fail.
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974) American Journalist, Political Commentator, Writer
Virtue is simply happiness, and happiness is a by-product of function. You are happy when you are functioning.
—William S. Burroughs (1914–97) American Novelist, Poet, Short Story Writer, Painter
There is virtue in country houses, in gardens and orchards, in fields, streams, and groves, in rustic recreations and plain manners, that neither cities nor universities enjoy.
—Amos Bronson Alcott (1799–1888) American Teacher, Writer, Philosopher
Virtues are dangerous as vices insofar as they are allowed to rule over one as authorities and not as qualities one develops oneself.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Virtue knows that it is impossible to get on without compromise, and tunes herself, as it were, a trifle sharp to allow for an inevitable fall in playing.
—Samuel Butler
Ah, Eugenie, have done with virtues! Among the sacrifices that can be made to those counterfeit divinities, is there one worth an instant of the pleasures one tastes in outraging them?
—Marquis de Sade (1740–1814) French Political leader, Revolutionary, Novelist, Poet, Critic
Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Be virtuous and you will be eccentric.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Of all the varieties of virtue, liberality is the most beloved.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Most virtue is a demand for greater seduction.
—Natalie Clifford Barney (1876–1972) American Playwright, Poet, Novelist
Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
It is hardly respectable to be good nowadays.
—Edith Sitwell (1887–1964) British Poet, Literary Critic
Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Modesty and unselfishness – these are virtues which men praise – and pass by.
—Andre Maurois (1885–1967) French Novelist, Biographer
The greatest virtue of man is perhaps curiosity.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
If we’ve learned anything in the past quarter century, it is that we cannot federalize virtue.
—George H. W. Bush (1924–2018) American Republican Statesman, 41st President
That virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarce worth the sentinel.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Virtue is harmony.
—Pythagoras (570–495 BCE) Greek Philosopher
I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Virtue has never been as respectable as money.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
It is of no consequence of what parents a man is born, as long as he be a man of merit.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
From Obedience and submission comes all our virtues, and all sin is comes from self-opinion.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Virtue is the habitual sense of right, and the habitual courage to act up to that sense of right, combined with benevolent sympathies, and the charity which thinketh no evil. The union of the highest conscience and highest sympathy fulfils my notion of virtue.
—Anna Brownell Jameson (1794–1860) Irish-born Literary, Art Critic
Build up virtue, and you master all.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Good qualities of a person are the ones that are admired and not the family background. People worship Vasudeva (Krishna) and not his father Vasudeva.
—Subhashita Manjari Sanskrit Anthology of Proverbs
What is virtue but the Trade Unionism of the married?
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Virtue by premeditation isn’t worth much.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
Certainly virtue is like precious odors, most fragrant when they are incensed, or crushed: for prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
The rich man is always sold to the institution which makes him rich. Absolutely speaking, the more money, the less virtue.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Virtue is more to be feared than vice, because its excesses are not subject to the regulation of conscience.
—George Goodman (b.1930) American Economist, Author
Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! Virtue is at hand.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
To many people virtue consists chiefly in repenting faults, not in avoiding them.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
Modesty is a vastly overrated virtue.
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
There are nine hundred and ninety-nine patrons of virtue to one virtuous man.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Wickedness is always easier than virtue; for it takes the short cut to everything.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
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.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American Poet