Many of us don’t have to turn out the lights to be in the dark.
—Indian Proverb
Virtue has never been as respectable as money.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Beauty as we feel it is something indescribable; what it is or what it means can never be said.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
That virtue we appreciate is as much ours as another s. We see so much only as we possess.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
There are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands things for itself, the other appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others. This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
Sell not virtue to purchase wealth.
—English Proverb
The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Mona Lisa is the only beauty who went through history and retained her reputation.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
Virtue is like health: the harmony of the whole man.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Optimism: The doctrine or belief that everything is beautiful, including what is ugly.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Virtue is too often merely local.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Honesty is the best policy. If I lose mine honor, I lose myself.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
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
Whether you think you can or think you can’t – you are right.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
We do not place especial value on the possession of a virtue until we notice its total absence in our opponent.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
There are nine hundred and ninety-nine patrons of virtue to one virtuous man.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
There are in every man, always, two simultaneous allegiances, one to God, the other to Satan. Invocation of God, or Spirituality, is a desire to climb higher; that of Satan, or animality, is delight in descent.
—Charles Baudelaire (1821–67) French Poet, Art Critic, Essayist, Translator
Men’s evil manners live in brass; their virtues we write in water.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The wise man applauds he who he thinks most virtuous; the rest of the world applauds the wealthy.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
A weed is a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The highest virtue found in the tropics is chastity, and in the colder regions, temperance.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourself.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Clear conscience never fears midnight knocking.
—Chinese Proverb
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
It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Had I but served my God with half the zeal
I served my king, he would not in mine age
Have left me naked to mine enemies.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
With virtue you can’t be entirely poor; without virtue you can’t really be rich.
—Chinese Proverb
Understanding the limitations of human beings as well as understanding your own is the beginning of true wisdom.
—Indian Proverb
Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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
Only happy people can learn. Only happy people can teach. Our religion should put a sparkle in our eyes and a tone in our voice, and a spring in our step that bears witness of our faith and confidence in the goodness of God.
—Unknown
The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
I have never seen a man as fond of virtue as of women.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Man seems to be capable of great virtues but not of small virtues; capable of defying his torturer but not of keeping his temper.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
A man of courage is also full of faith.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
If you follow only one rule, let it be this one: Be yourself. The really strong boy-girl relationships are based on what people really are, not on what they pretend to be.
—Indian Proverb
If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it.
—Unknown
To be innocent is to be not guilty; but to be virtuous is to overcome our evil inclinations.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
If one is not virtuous he becomes vicious.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
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
Of all the varieties of virtue, liberality is the most beloved.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities because as has been said, it is the quality which guarantees all others.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Virtue craves a steep and thorny path.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
From Obedience and submission comes all our virtues, and all sin is comes from self-opinion.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
When you get into a tight place, and everything goes against you till it seems as if you could n’t hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that ‘s just the place and time that the tide ‘ll turn. Never trust to prayer without using every means in your power, and never use the means without trusting in prayer.
—Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–96) American Abolitionist, Author