Virtue Quotes - Page 5

• Be virtuous and you will be eccentric.

  Mark Twain

  Eccentric, Virtuous

  A Curious Dream (1872) "Mental Photographs"

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• Virtue consists, not in abstaining from vice, but in not desiring it.

  George Bernard Shaw

  Life, Vices, Abstaining

  George Bernard Shaw (2015). “The Collected Works of George Bernard Shaw: Plays, Novels, Articles, Letters and Essays: Pygmalion, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Candida, Arms and The Man, Man and Superman, Caesar and Cleopatra, Androcles And The Lion, The New York Times Articles on War, Memories of Oscar Wilde and more”, p.4489, e-artnow

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• Courage is the form of every virtue at the testing point.

  Lynn G. Robbins

  Courage, Bravery, Heroic

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• Virtue when concealed is a worthless thing.

  Claudius Claudianus

  Concealed, Worthless

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• Good company and good discourse are the very sinews of virtue.

  Izaak Walton

  Family, Empathy, Understanding

  'The Compleat Angler' (1653) pt. 1, ch. 2

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• More people are flattered into virtue than bullied out of vice.

  Robert Smith Surtees

  Integrity, Hypocrisy, People

  'The Analysis of the Hunting Field' (1846) ch. 1

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• Happiness is a virtue, not its reward.

  Baruch Spinoza

  Happiness, Happy, Rewards

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• A man hasn't got a corner on virtue just because his shoes are shined.

  Ann Petry

  Men, Shoes, Corners

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• Virtues are dangerous as vices insofar as they are allowed to rule over one as authorities and not as qualities one develops oneself.

  Friedrich Nietzsche

  Quality, Vices, Authority

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• I find that the best virtue I have has in it some tincture of vice.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Vices

  Michel de Montaigne (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of Michel de Montaigne (Illustrated)”, p.1414, Delphi Classics

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• Virtue alone is true nobility.

  William Gifford

  Nobility

  Ben Jonson, William Gifford (1816). “The Works: In 9 Volumes. ... containing Underwoods, translations, &c. Discoveries. English grammar. Jonsonus viribus”, p.72

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• If he does really think that there is no distinction between virtue and vice, why, sir, when he leaves our houses let us count our spoons.

  Samuel Johnson

  Thinking, House, Vices

  Quoted in James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) (entry for 14 July 1763)

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• When virtue is banished, ambition invades the minds of those who are disposed to receive it and avarice possesses the whole community.

  Baron de Montesquieu

  Ambition, Community, Mind

  Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu (2015). “The Spirit of Laws”, p.37, Library of Alexandria

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• It is as hard to satirize well a man of distinguished vices, as to praise well a man of distinguished virtues.

  Jonathan Swift

  Sarcasm, Men, Vices

  Jonathan Swift (1861). “The Works of Jonathan Swift ...: With Cop'ous Notes and Additions”, p.612

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• There is but one pursuit in life which it is in the power of all to follow, and of all to attain. It is subject to no disappointments, since he that perseveres, makes every difficulty an advancement, and every contest a victory; and this is the pursuit of virtue.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Disappointment, Victory, Advancement

  Charles Caleb Colton (1836). “Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think”, p.40

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• Sincerely to aspire after virtue, is to gain her; and zealously to labour after her wages, is to receive them.

  Charles Caleb Colton

  Wages, Gains, Sincerely

  Charles Caleb Colton (1824). “Lacon, Or, Many Things in a Few Words: Addressed to Those who Think”, p.36

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• Hast thou virtue? acquire also the graces and beauties of virtue.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Grace, Acquire

  Benjamin Franklin “Poor Richard Day by Day”, Lulu.com

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• I know myself too well to believe in pure virtue.

  Albert Camus

  Believe, Wells, Knows

  Albert Camus (1965). “Notebooks, 1942-1951”

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• There are some persons on whom virtue sits almost as ungraciously as vice.

  Dominique Bouhours

  Vices, Persons

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• Virtue is health, vice is sickness.

  Petrarch

  Vices, Sickness

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• Content not thyself that thou art virtuous in the general; for one link being wanting, the chain is defective.

  William Penn

  Art, Links, Chains

  William Penn (1782). “The Select Works of William Penn....”, p.158

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• Well may your heart believe the truths Well may your heart believe the truths I tell; 'Tis virtue makes the bliss, where'er we dwell.

  Wilkie Collins

  Believe, Heart, May

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• Let them (the wicked) see the beauty of virtue, and pine at having forsaken her.
  [Lat., Virtutem videant, intabescantque relicta.]

  Aulus Persius Flaccus

  Wicked, Forsaken

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• Virtue is despotic; life, reputation, every earthly good, must be surrendered at her voice. The law may seem hard, but it is the guardian of what it commands; and is the only sure defence of happiness.

  Jane Porter

  Law, Voice, May

  Sir Philip Sidney, Jane Porter (1807). “Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks”

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• Virtue and vice are both prophets; the first, of certain good; the second, of pain or else of penitence.

  Ralph Venning

  Pain, Vices, Firsts

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