1,046 Quotes About Virtue

For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline: think on these things.

We must remember that the test of our religious principles lies not just in what we say, not only in our prayers, not even in living blameless lives - but in what we do for others

Great and pure thoughts cannot be deposited in minds accumulated with rubbish.

If such as Thomas a Kempis and Bernard of Clairvaux are generous providers of the occasion of education, rather than reciters of precepts and beliefs, it is because they are seeking to be virtuous and to compose their own lives, rather than worrying that others might be vicious, leading discordant lives. Such teachers do the best that a teacher can do. In their own deliberations, they cast enough light that I may see something by it, if I happen to be looking.

Alas, higher education is not necessarily a guarantee of higher virtue, or higher political wisdom.

Do not live to work, rather the whole reason we work, is to live. Thus, work to live.

Humility is to the various virtues what the chain is in a Rosary. Take away the chain and the beads are scattered; remove humility, and all virtues vanish.

Meekness is not what you think—it doesn’t mean being a spineless milquetoast or a coward, but quite the contrary. It is the most misunderstood of the virtues. There is, in fact, nothing weak about being meek. It is the woman of unique strength who, although she is clearly aware of adverse realities around her, is able to direct her emotions to an appropriate response in a difficult situation.

It is so easy to practice a creditable degree of so seeming virtue, and so difficult to purify and direct the affections of the heart, that I feel myself in continual danger of appearing better than I am; and I verily believe it is possible to make one’s whole life a display of splendid virtue and agreeable qualities, without ever setting foot towards the narrow path, or even one’s face towards the strait gate.” – Hannah More