Virtue is like health: the harmony of the whole man.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Beauty is not caused. It is.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
Loyalty means nothing unless it has at its heart the absolute principle of self-sacrifice.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
I have never seen a man as fond of virtue as of women.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
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
Some have been thought brave because they didn’t have the courage to run away.
—Common Proverb
The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Temperance and labor are the two best physicians of man; labor sharpens the appetite, and temperance prevents from indulging to excess.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French 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
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
Life becomes real only when we begin to face and solve our own problems. Until then we only swim in circles in a large fantasy world which tends to make us very tired of living. Don’t waste energy! Face life now!
—Unknown
We can never be certain of our courage until we have faced danger.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
A man of courage is also full of faith.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
Virtues are the true kith and kin of a man.
—Anonymous
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
Optimism: The doctrine or belief that everything is beautiful, including what is ugly.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Courage leads to heaven; fear leads to death.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
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
Wise men are not always silent, but they know when to be.
—Unknown
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
Self-disciplined 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
We are very apt to measure ourselves by our aspiration instead of our performance. But in truth the conduct of our lives is the only proof of the sincerity of our hearts.
—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
Your persistence is your measure of faith in yourself.
—Unknown
What is virtue but the Trade Unionism of the married?
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Beauty is a primeval phenomenon, which itself never makes its appearance, but the reflection of which is visible in a thousand different utterances of the creative mind, and is as various as nature herself.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The highest virtue found in the tropics is chastity, and in the colder regions, temperance.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
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
No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourself.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher