Virtue is the only true nobility.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
A little integrity is better than any career.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Elevated levels of confidence are omnipresent among history’s greatest overachievers. Benjamin Franklin, one of the most famous men in the world even before he signed the Declaration of Independence once lamented about humility, “I cannot boast of much success in acquiring the reality of this virtue”.
—John Eliot (b.1971) American Psychologist, Academic
Virtue is uniform and fixed, because she looks for approbation only from Him who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
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
We live in a war of two antagonistic ethical philosophies, the ethical policy taught in the books and schools, and the success policy.
—William Graham Sumner (1840–1910) American Polymath, Historian, Sociologist, Anthropologist
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
Modesty is a vastly overrated virtue.
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
The more virtuous any man is, the less easily does he suspect others to be vicious.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart.
—Buddhist Teaching
The imperfections of a man, his frailties, his faults, are just as important as his virtues. You can’t separate them. They’re wedded.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
The determined scholar and the man of virtue will not seek to live at the expense of injuring their virtue. They will even sacrifice their lives to preserve their virtue complete.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Want of prudence is too frequently the want of virtue; nor is there on earth a more powerful advocate for vice than poverty.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
The door to virtue is heavy and hard to push.
—Chinese Proverb
When men grow virtuous in their old age, they only make a sacrifice to God of the devil’s leavings.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Virtue is like health: the harmony of the whole man.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Vice stirs up war, virtue fights.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer
Wealth does not bring about excellence (aka Kindness, Virtue, Goodness), but excellence (aka Kindness, Virtue, Goodness) brings about wealth and all other public and private blessings for men.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
The society which scorns excellence in plumbing because plumbing is a humble activity, and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because philosophy is an exalted activity, will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy. Neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water.
—John W. Gardner (1912–2002) American Activist
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
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
You are a man, not God; you are human, not an angel. How can you expect to remain always in a constant state of virtue, when this was not possible even for an angel of Heaven, nor for the first man in the Garden?
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
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
Content not thyself that thou art virtuous in the general; for one link being wanting, the chain is defective. Perhaps thou art rather innocent than virtuous, and owest more to thy constitution than to thy religion.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Philosopher, Political Leader
The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
A portion of mankind take pride in their vices and pursue their purpose; many more waver between doing what is right and complying with what is wrong.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
It is easier to enrich ourselves with a thousand virtues, than to correct ourselves of a single fault.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
The mere abhorrence of vice is not a virtue at all.
—Bergen Evans
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