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 (1835–1902) British Victorian Novelist, Essayist, Critic
Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacle s, discouragement s, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of the circumstances.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
A weed is a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
A man of courage is also full of faith.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Loyalty means nothing unless it has at its heart the absolute principle of self-sacrifice.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
A wise woman puts a grain of sugar into everything she says to a man, and takes a grain of salt with everything he says to her.
—Helen Rowland (1875–1950) American Journalist, Humorist
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
Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Men of genius are admired, men of wealth are envied, men of power are feared; but only men of character are trusted.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychiatrist
The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
If you create an act, you create a habit. If you create a habit, you create a character. If you create a character, you create a destiny.
—Andre Maurois (1885–1967) French Novelist, Biographer
Some virtues are only seen in affliction and others only in prosperity.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Nothing can be beautiful which is not true.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
Virtue craves a steep and thorny path.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
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 only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Let us train our minds to desire what the situation demands.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Truthfulness is my mother. Knowledge is my father. Righteousness is my brother. Mercy is my friend. Calmness is my wife. Forgiveness is my son. These are all my kith and kin.
—Chanakya Neeti Anthology of Indian Aphorisms
The desire of knowledge, like the thirst for riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.
—Laurence Sterne (1713–68) Irish Anglican Novelist, Clergyman
Self-discipline begins with the mastery of your thoughts. If you don’t control what you think, you can’t control what you do. Simply, self-discipline enables you to think first and act afterward.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
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
Virtue rejects facility to be her companion. She requires a craggy, rough and thorny way.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
There are nine hundred and ninety-nine patrons of virtue to one virtuous man.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Assume a virtue if you have it not.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Show me the man you honor, and I will know what kind of a man you are, for it shows me what your ideal of manhood is, and what kind of a man you long to be.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
If you want to be important – that’s wonderful. If you want to be great – that’s wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That’s your new definition of greatness – it means that everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don’t have to know the second law of thermodynamics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love…
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
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