VIRTUE QUOTES

quotations about virtue

Virtue quote

Virtue has its own reward, but no box office.

MAE WEST

An Uncommon Scold

Tags: Mae West


Virtue is like a rich stone, best plain set.

FRANCIS BACON

Essays

Tags: Francis Bacon


If you have performed an act of great and disinterested virtue, conceal it; if you publish it, you will neither be believed here, nor rewarded hereafter.

CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Lacon


As a good tree produces good fruit; even so does a virtuous soul produce pure thoughts.

WILLIAM SCOTT DOWNEY

Proverbs

Tags: William Scott Downey


Light may be produced by candle, by oil, by gas, by electricity: warmth by wood, by coal, by steam. As it would be foolish for the user of one means to disparage all the others, so 'tis foolish to fret because the manner in which others are virtuous differs from ours.

IVAN PANIN

Thoughts


Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues: hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.

AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

attributed, Christian Spirit

Tags: St. Augustine


Virtue is more to a man than either water or fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have never seen a man die from treading the course of virtue.

CONFUCIUS

The Wisdom of Confucius


Let cunning statesmen praise or blame,
Let Fortune turn or go her way,
Come instant death, or lingering shame,
Firm souls from virtue will not stray.

BHARTRHARI

"The Praise of Firmness"

Tags: Bhartrhari


The virtuous will be sure to speak uprightly; but those whose speech is upright may not be virtuous.

CONFUCIUS

The Wisdom of Confucius

Tags: Confucius


Virtue is the habit of acting according to wisdom.

GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ

"Felicity", Leibniz: Political Writings

Tags: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz


There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men.

HENRY DAVID THOREAU

Civil Disobedience

Tags: Henry David Thoreau


He who sows virtue reaps glory.

LEONARDO DA VINCI

Thoughts on Art and Life

Tags: Leonardo da Vinci


Encourage all your virtuous dispositions, and exercise them whenever an opportunity arises, being assured that they will gain strength by exercise, as a limb of the body does, and that exercise will make them habitual.

THOMAS JEFFERSON

letter to Peter Carr, August 19, 1785


Virtue is harder to be got than knowledge of the world; and, if lost in a young man, is seldom recovered.

JOHN LOCKE

Some Thoughts Concerning Education

Tags: John Locke


Virtue has more admirers than followers.

NORMAN MACDONALD

Maxims and Moral Reflections

Tags: Norman MacDonald


It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

attributed, The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln

Tags: Abraham Lincoln


Most virtues and flowers bloom best on poor soil.

AUSTIN O'MALLEY

Keystones of Thought


As you do not sweeten your mouth by saying honey, so you do not grow virtuous by merely talking of virtue.

IVAN PANIN

Thoughts

Tags: Ivan Panin


Virtue is the fount whence honour springs.

CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE

Tamburlaine the Great

Tags: Christopher Marlowe


When I hear a man discoursing of virtue, or of any sort of wisdom, who is a true man and worthy of his theme, I am delighted beyond measure: and I compare the man and his words, and note the harmony and correspondence of them. And such an one I deem to be the true musician, having in himself a fairer harmony than that of the lyre.

PLATO

Laches

Tags: Plato