Quotes about Virtue

Wicked men obey from fear; good men, from love.

We become just by the practice of just actions, self-controlled by exercising self-control, and courageous by performing acts of courage.

The man who does not enjoy doing noble actions is not a good man at all.

Political society exists for the sake of noble actions, and not of mere companionship.

Man's work as Man is accomplished by virtue of Practical Wisdom and Moral Virtue, the latter giving the right aim and direction, the former the right means to its attainment;

Hence while in respect of its substance and the definition that states what it really is in essence virtue is the observance of the mean, in point of excellence and rightness it is an extreme.

There is no such thing as observing a mean in excess or deficiency, nor as exceeding or falling short in observance of a mean.

All virtue is summed up in dealing justly.

Life in accordance with intellect is best and pleasantest, since this, more than anything else, constitutes humanity.

By the way, a question is sometimes raised, whether the moral choice or the actions have most to do with Virtue, since it consists in both: it is plain that the perfection of virtuous action requires both: but for the actions many things are required, and the greater and more numerous they are the more.

good character is the indispensable condition and chief determinant of happiness, itself the goal of all human doing.

Again, it is for the sake of the soul that goods external and goods of the body are eligible at all, and all wise men ought to choose them for the sake of the soul, and not the soul for the sake of them.