Category Archives: virtue

A kingdom founded on injustice never lasts.

A kingdom founded on injustice never lasts. – Seneca What does that mean? This is also alternately translated in the following manner: “Unjust rule never abides continually.” This quote is an interesting observation of the basics of human nature. Humans … Continue reading

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Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.

Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” – Maya Angelou What does that mean? Courage is a powerful word. Whether it is one man standing against a line … Continue reading

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But [Injury] does not give Virtue; therefore she cannot take it away.

But [Injury] does not give Virtue; therefore she cannot take it away. – Seneca What does that mean? This quote is especially interesting in the translation. The longer excerpt (which I have included at the bottom of the post) doesn’t … Continue reading

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Knowledge becomes evil if the aim be not virtuous.

Knowledge becomes evil if the aim be not virtuous. – Plato What does that mean? This is an interesting quote about knowledge and how it is applied. It is in the application that knowledge becomes evil or virtuous. Some of … Continue reading

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Disaster is Virtue’s opportunity.

Disaster is Virtue’s opportunity. – Seneca What does that mean? Also translated as Calamity is Virtue’s opportunity, it is a call to us to not shrink from the unpleasant things which fall our way in life. This quote is a … Continue reading

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Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.

Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t. – Margaret Thatcher What does that mean? This quote is interesting, as it draws an analogy which I would never have considered. But that’s probably … Continue reading

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True love begins when nothing is looked for in return.

True love begins when nothing is looked for in return. – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry What does that mean? I have heard a lot of variants of this quote, but many seem to take it in a different direction. To me, this … Continue reading

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Not everybody can be famous. But everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service.

Not everybody can be famous. But everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service. – Martin Luther King, Jr What does that mean? A slightly longer version is as follows: “Not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great … Continue reading

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Stimulate the heart to love, and all other virtues will rise of their own accord.

Stimulate the heart to love, and all other virtues will rise of their own accord. – W. T. Ussery This is a thinly sourced quote, apparently from a book titled Sermons, from the Baptist Publishing Company, Nashville, Tennessee, from 1912. … Continue reading

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Each person must live their life as a model for others.

Each person must live their life as a model for others. – Rosa Parks What does that mean? Think about that for a moment. There are people who have famously said that they are not a role model, but they are … Continue reading

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Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others. – Cicero What does that mean? Well, to discuss this, we need some virtues. While each religion and culture have their own take on virtue, hopefully this … Continue reading

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Modesty forbids what the law does not.

Modesty forbids what the law does not. – Seneca What does that mean? Whether you call it modesty, correct behavior, or something else, this quote is about doing the right thing. This is separate, or at least it is often different … Continue reading

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Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do.

Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do. – Voltaire What does that mean? This quote was shortened far before the advent of Twitter. It is from one of his books, and the complete quote is: … Continue reading

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Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.

Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses. – Confucius What does that mean? This is a beautiful quote, for its shortness, its symmetry, and its heart. Injuries can be dealt with in many ways, but they boil down to two basic ways. You … Continue reading

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Once you have a genuine sense of concern for others, there’s no room for cheating, bullying or exploitation.

Once you have a genuine sense of concern for others, there’s no room for cheating, bullying or exploitation. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? In the last two weeks, we discussed how concern for others helped quell anger inside ourselves, and … Continue reading

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