Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Virtue has never been as respectable as money.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
The time is always right to do what’s right.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Virtue is praised, but hated. People run from it, for it is ice-cold and in this world you have to keep your feet warm.
—Denis Diderot (1713–84) French Philosopher, Writer
When you can do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.
—George Washington Carver (1864–1943) American Scientist, Botanist, Educator, Inventor
We are all exceptional cases. Each man insists on being innocent, even if it means accusing the whole human race, and heaven.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
Wickedness is always easier than virtue; for it takes the short cut to everything.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
A homely face and no figure have aided many women heavenward.
—Minna Antrim (1861–1950) American Writer, Epigrammist
You cannot believe in honor until you have achieved it. Better keep yourself clean and bright: you are the window through which you must see the world.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
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, Academic, Historian, Sociologist, Anthropologist
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
The past is a bucket of ashes, so live not in your yesterdays, nor just for tomorrow, but in the here and now. Keep moving and forget the post-mortems. And remember, no one can get the jump on the future.
—Carl Sandburg (1878–1967) American Biographer, Novelist, Socialist
It is easy enough to be virtuous When nothing tempts you to stray; When without or within No voice of sin Is luring your soul away. But it is only a negative virtue until it is tried by fire. For the soul that is worth the treasures of the earth is the soul that resists desire.
—Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919) American Poet, Journalist
Glory follows virtue as if it were its shadow.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Tomorrow is the day when idlers work, and fools reform, and mortal men lay hold on heaven.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
We would frequently be ashamed of our good deeds if people saw all of the motives that produced them.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
All of us are experts at practicing virtue at a distance.
—Theodore Hesburgh (1917–2015) American Catholic Educator, Clergyman
The person who talks most of his own virtue is often the least virtuous.
—Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) Indian Head of State
We rarely like the virtues we have not.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The deadliest foe to virtue would be complete self-knowledge.
—F. H. Bradley (1846–1924 ) British Idealist Philosopher
Virtuous and vicious everyone must be; few in extremes, but all in degree.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
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 consists, not in abstaining from vice, but in not desiring it.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
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
There is no road or ready way to virtue.
—Thomas Browne (1605–82) English Author, Physician
He who hates vice hates men.
—John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn (1838–1923) British Political Leader, Writer, Editor, Journalist
The virtues of society are vices of the saint. The terror of reform is the discovery that we must cast away our virtues, or what we have always esteemed such, into the same pit that has consumed our grosser vices.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Every condition of life, if attended with virtue, is undisturbed and delightful; but when vice is intermixed, it renders even things that appear sumptuous and magnificent, distasteful and uneasy to the possessor.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
The vices we scoff at in others, laugh at us within ourselves.
—Thomas Browne (1605–82) English Author, Physician
To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and kindness.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
The door to virtue is heavy and hard to push.
—Chinese Proverb
The only virtue a character needs to possess between hardcovers, even if he bears a real person’s name, is vitality: if he comes to life in our imaginations, he passes the test.
—Stephen Vizinczey (b.1933) Hungarian-born Canadian Novelist, Literary Critic, Author
What’s vice today may be virtue, tomorrow.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed … The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties. All history will convince you of this, and that wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure. Great necessities call out great virtues.
—Abigail Adams (1744–1818) American First Lady
It is safest to be moderately base — to be flexible in shame, and to be always ready for what is generous, good and just, when anything is to be gained by virtue.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
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
If one is not virtuous he becomes vicious.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
People praise virtue, but they hate it, they run away from it. It freezes you to death, and in this world you’ve got to keep your feet warm.
—Denis Diderot (1713–84) French Philosopher, Writer
What is called virtue in the common sense of the word has nothing to do with this or that man’s prosperity, or even happiness.
—James Anthony Froude (1818–94) British Historian, Novelist, Biographer, Editor
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
That virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarce worth the sentinel.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
The greatest virtue of man is perhaps curiosity.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
Unless I accept my faults, I will most certainly doubt my virtues.
—Hugh Prather (b.1938) American Christian Author, Minister, Counselor
Virtuous people are simply those who have not been tempted sufficiently, because they live in a vegetative state, or because their purposes are so concentrated in one direction that they have not had the leisure to glance around them.
—Isadora Duncan (1877–1927) American Dancer, Choreographer
The tragedy of life is not that man loses,
but that he almost wins.
—Heywood Hale Broun (1918–2001) American Journalist, Commentator, Actor
Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Some virtues are only seen in affliction and others only in prosperity.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
All art is a struggle to be, in a particular sort of way, virtuous.
—Iris Murdoch (1919–99) British Novelist, Playwright, Philosopher
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
Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. So aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.
—David Starr Jordan (1851–1931) American Zoologist, Educator, Peace Activist
The vices of some men are magnificent.
—Charles Lamb (1775–1834) British Essayist, Poet
The virtuous man is driven by responsibility; the non-virtuous man is driven by profit.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
I was just trying to let them know how I felt about being treated as a human being.
—Rosa Parks (1913–2005) American Civil Rights Leader
He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Who sows virtue reaps honor.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Inventor, Architect
Virtue is an angel; but she is a blind one and must ask of knowledge to show her the pathway that leads to her goal. Mere knowledge, on the other hand, like a Swiss mercenary, is ready to combat either in the ranks of sin or under the banners of righteousness — ready to forge cannon balls or to print New Testaments, to navigate a corsair’s vessel or a missionary ship.
—Horace Mann (1796–1859) American Educator, Politician, Educationalist
Love means to love that which is unlovable, or it is no virtue at all.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Many who have tasted all the pleasures of sin have forsaken it and come over to virtue; but there are few, if any, who having tried the sweets of virtue could ever be drawn off from it, or find in their hearts to fall back to their former course.
—Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey (1773–1850) Scottish Judge, Literary Critic
When you can’t have anything else, you can have virtue.
—Don Marquis (1878–1937) American Humorist, Journalist, Author
Most virtue is a demand for greater seduction.
—Natalie Clifford Barney (1876–1972) American Playwright, Poet, Novelist
Beware of making your moral staple consist of the negative virtues. It is good to abstain, and teach others to abstain, from all that is sinful or hurtful. But making a business of it leads to emaciation of character, unless one feeds largely also on the more nutritious diet of active sympathetic benevolence.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.
—Buddhist Teaching