Quotes about Virtue
If, then, the final happiness of man does not consist in those exterior advantages which are called goods of fortune, nor in goods of the body, nor in goods of the soul in its sentient part, nor in the virtues of practical intellect, called art and prudence, it remains that the final happiness of man consists in the contemplation of truth.
— St. Thomas Aquinas
The Philosopher, too, says of the wicked (Ethic. ix, 4) that "their soul is divided against itself . . . one part pulls this way, another that"; and afterwards he concludes, saying: "If wickedness makes a man so miserable, he should strain every nerve to avoid vice.
— St. Thomas Aquinas
Temperance is simply a disposition of the mind which sets bounds to the passions
— St. Thomas Aquinas
Honor is due to God and to persons of great excellence as a sign of attestation of excellence already existing; not that honor makes them excellent.
— St. Thomas Aquinas
Jerome says (Ep. ad Nepot. lii): "Shun, as you would the plague, a cleric who from being poor has become wealthy, or who, from being a nobody has become a celebrity.
— St. Thomas Aquinas
the intention of every man acting according to virtue is to follow the rule of reason, wherefore the intention of all the virtues is directed to the same end, so that all the virtues are connected together in the right reason of things to be done, viz. prudence,
— St. Thomas Aquinas
Now this relaxation of the mind from work consists on playful words or deeds. Therefore it becomes a wise and virtuous man to have recourse to such things at times.
— St. Thomas Aquinas
We should eliminate sin if we wish to eliminate the scourge of tyrants.
— St. Thomas Aquinas
So if the ultimate felicity of man does not consist in external things which are called the goods of fortune, nor in the goods of the body, nor in the goods of the soul according to its sensitive part, nor as regards the intellective part according to the activity of the moral virtues, nor according to the intellectual virtues that are concerned with action, that is art and prudence — we are left with the conclusion that the ultimate felicity of man lies the contemplation of truth.
— St. Thomas Aquinas
But there are more wicked men to be found than good; according to Eccles. 1:15: "The number of fools is infinite.
— St. Thomas Aquinas
God is not offended except by our acting contrary to our own good
— St. Thomas Aquinas
Hence it is predicated chiefly of the virtuous; then of the pleasant; and lastly of the useful.
— St. Thomas Aquinas