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Virtue: Quotations from Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations
Curse on his virtues! they've undone his country.— ADDISON — Cato. Act IV. Sc. 4.
Sweet are the slumbers of the virtuous man!— ADDISON — Cato. Act V. Sc. 4.
One's outlook is a part of his virtue.— AMOS BRONSON ALCOTT — Concord Days.
April Outlook. Virtue and sense are one; and, trust me, still A faithless heart betrays the head unsound.— ARMSTRONG — Art of Preserving Health. Bk. IV. L. 265.
Virtue, the strength and beauty of the soul, Is the best gift of Heaven: a happiness That even above the smiles and frowns of fate Exalts great Nature's favourites: a wealth That ne'er encumbers, nor can be transferr'd.— ARMSTRONG — Art of Preserving Health. Bk. IV. L. 284.
Certainly virtue is like precious odours, most fragrant when they are incensed or crushed.— BACON — Essays. Of Adversity.
Virtue is like a rich stone, best plain set.— BACON — Essays. Of Beauty.
Whilst shame keeps its watch, virtue is not wholly extinguished in the heart. aa.— BURKE — Reflections on the Revolution in
France. Virtue is not malicious; wrong done her Is righted even when men grant they err. bb.— GEORGE CHAPMAN — Monsieur D' Olive. Act I. Sc. 1. L. 127.
The firste vertu, sone, if thou wolt lerne, Is to restreyne, and kepe wel thy tonge.— CHAUCER — Canterbury Tales. The Manciple's Tale. L. 18,213.
Virtue is a habit of the mind, consistent with nature and moderation and reason.— CICERO — Rhetorical Invention. Bk. II. Sc. LIII.
Well may your heart believe the truths I tell ; 'Tis virtue makes the bliss, where'er we dwell.— COLLINS — Eclogue I. L. 5. Selim.
Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! virtue is at hand.— CONFUCIUS — Analects. Bk. I. Ch. IV.
Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.— CONFUCIUS- — Analects. Bk. IV. *Ch. XXV.
And he by no uncommon lot Was famed for virtues he had not.— COWPER — To the Rev. William Bull. L. 19.
The only amaranthine flower on earth Is virtue.— COWPER — The Task. Bk. III. L. 268.
Virtue alone is happiness below.— CRABBE — The Borough. Letter XVI.
And virtue, though in rags, will keep me warm.— DRYDEN — Imitation of Horace. Bk. I. Ode XXIX. L. 87.
The only reward of virtue is virtue.— EMERSON — Essays. Friendship.
The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs.— EMERSON — Essays. First Series.
Self-Reliance. Shall ignorance of good and ill Dare to direct the eternal will? Seek virtue, and, of that possest, To Providence resign the rest.— GAY — The Father and Jupiter.
Yet why should learning hope success at court? Why should our patriots' virtues cause support? Why to true merit should they have regard? They know that virtue is its own reward.— GAY — Epistle to Methuen. L. 39.
And even his failings leaned to virtue's side.— GOLDSMITH — Deserted Village. L. 164.
The virtuous nothing fear but life with shame, And death's a pleasant road that leads to fame. GEO. GRANVILLE (Lord Lansdowne)- Verses written 1690. L.
Only a sweet and virtuous soul, Like seasoned timber, never gives.— HERBERT — The Church. Virtue.
Virtue, dear friend, needs no defence, The surest guard is innocence: None knew, till guilt created fear, What darts or poison'd arrows were.— HORACE — Odes. Bk. I. Ode XII. St. 1. Wentworth Dillon's trans.
Some of 'em [virtues] like extinct volcanoes, with a strong memory of fire and brimstone.— DOUGLAS JERROLD — The Catspaw. Act III. Sc. 1.
To be discontented with the divine discontent, and to be ashamed with the noble shame, is the very germ of the first upgrowth of all virtue.— CHAS. KINGSLEY — Health and Educa-
S. tion. The Science of Health. Virtue is an angel, but she is a blind one, and must ask of Knowledge to show her the pathway that leads to her goal.— HORACE MANN — A Few Thoughts for a
Young Man. God sure esteems the growth and completing of one virtuous person, more than the restraint of ten vicious.— MILTON — Areopagitica. A Speech for
the Liberty of Unlicensed Printing. Or, if Virtue feeble were, Heaven itself would stoop to her.— MILTON — Comus. L. 1,022.
Virtue could see to do what Virtue would By her own radiant light, though sun and moon Were in the flat sea sunk.— MILTON — Comus. L. 373.
Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt, Surprised by unjust force, but not inthralled; Yea, even that which mischief meant most harm Shall in the happy trial prove most glory.— MILTON — Comus. L. 589.
I find that the best virtue I have has in it some tincture of vice. That we Taste— MONTAIGNE — Essays.
Nothing Pure. For virtue only finds eternal Fame.— PETRARCH — The Triumph of Fame. Pt. I. L. 183.
But sometimes virtue starves while vice is fed. What then? Is the reward of virtue bread?— POPE — Essay on Man. Ep. IV. L. 149.
Court-virtues bear, like gems, the highest My heart laments that virtue cannot live rate, Born where Heav'n's influence scarce can penetrate. In life's low vale, the soil the virtues like, They please as beauties, here as wonders strike.— POPE — Moral Essays. Ep. I. L. 141.
Know then this truth (enough for man to know) "Virtue alone is happiness below. "— POPE — Essay on Man. Ep. IV. L. 309.
O let us still the secret joy partake, To follow virtue even for virtue's sake. C.— POPE — Temple of Fame. L. 364.
There is nothing that is meritorious but virtue and friendship; and indeed friendship itself is only a part of virtue.— POPE — On his Death-Bed. JOHNSON'S
Life of Pope. The soul's calm sunshine and the heartfelt joy, Is virtue's prize.— POPE — Essay on Man. Ep. IV. L. 168.
Virtue may choose the high or low degree, 'Tis just alike to virtue, and to me; Dwell in a monk, or light upon a king, She's still the same belov'd, contented thing.— POPE — Epilogue to Satires. Dialogue I. L. 137.
Virtue she finds too painful an endeavour, Content to dwell in decencies forever.— POPE — Moral Essays. Ep. II. L. 163.
Sweet drop of pure and pearly light; In thee the rays of Virtue shine; More calmly clear, more mildly bright, Than any gem that gilds the mine.— SAM'L ROGERS — On a Tear.
According to his virtue let us use him, With all respect and rites of burial. Julius Cæsar. Act V. Sc. 5. L. 76. Assume a virtue, if you have it not.— Shakespeare — Hamlet. Act III. Sc. 4. L. 160.
For in the fatness of these pursy times Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg.— Shakespeare — Hamlet. Act III. Sc. 4. L. 153.
His virtues Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against The deep damnation of his taking-off.— Shakespeare — Macbeth. Act I. Sc. 7. L. 18.
I hold it ever, Virtue and cunning were endowments greater Than nobleness and riches: careless heirs May the two latter darken and expend; But immortality attends the former, Making a man a god.— Shakespeare — Pericles. Act III. Sc. 2. L. 27.
Out of the teeth of emulation. Julius Cæsar. Act II. Sc. 3. L. 13. The trumpet of his own virtues.— Shakespeare — Much Ado About Nothing. Act V. Sc. 2. L. 87.
To show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure.— Shakespeare — Hamlet. Act III. Sc. 2. L. 25.
Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful. Sc.— Shakespeare — Measure for Measure. Act III. L. 215.
Virtue is chok'd with foul ambition.— Shakespeare — Henry VI. Pt. II. Act III. Sc. 1. L. 143.
Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied; And vice sometimes by action dignified.— Shakespeare — Romeo and Juliet. Act II. Sc. 3.
S. L. 21. Virtue that transgresses is but patched with sin; and sin that amends is but patched with virtue.— Shakespeare — Twelfth Night. Act I. Sc. 5. L. 52.
Virtue often trips and falls on the sharpedged rock of poverty. EUGÈNE SUE. Virtue, the greatest of all monarchies.— SWIFT — Ode. To the Hon. Sir William
Temple. What, what is virtue, but repose of mind, A pure ethereal calm, that knows no storm; Above the reach of wild ambition's wind, Above those passions that this world deform And torture man.— THOMSON — Castle of Indolence. Canto I. St. 16.
Virtue's a stronger guard than brass.— EDMUND WALLER — Epigram Upon the Golden Medal. L. 14.
Good company and good discourse are the very sinews of virtue.— IZAAK WALTON — Compleat Angler. Pt. I. Ch. II. (Continued.)
Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.— GEORGE WASHINGTON — Moral Maxims.
Virtue and Vice. The Trial of Virtue. I have ever thought, Nature doth nothing so great for great men, As when she's pleas'd to make them lords of truth. Integrity of life is fame's best friend, Which nobly, beyond death, shall crown the end.— JOHN WEBSTER — The Duchess of Malfi. Act V. Sc. 5.
To Virtue's humblest son let none prefer Vice, though descended from the conqueror.— YOUNG — Love of Fame. Satire I. L. 141.
Virtue alone outbuilds the pyramids : Her monuments shall last, when Egypt's fall.— YOUNG — Night Thoughts. Night VI. L. 314.
Accipere quam facere injuriam præstat. It is better to receive than to do a wrong.— CICERO — Tusculanarum Disputationum.
V. 19. Est haec sæculi labes quædam et macula virtuti invidere, velle ipsum florem dignitatis infringere. It is the stain and disgrace of the age to envy virtue, and to be anxious to crush the very flower of dignity.— CICERO — Oratio Pro Lucio Cornelio
Balbo. VI. Honor est præmium virtutis. Honor is the reward of virtue.— CICERO — Brutus. LXXXI.
In virtute sunt multi adscensus. In the approach to virtue there are many steps.— CICERO — Oratio Pro Cnæo Plancio.
Concordiâ res parvæ crescunt, discordiâ maximæ dilabantur. By union the smallest states thrive, by discord the greatest are destroyed. C.— SALLUST — Jugurtha. X.
Auxilia humilia firma consensus facit. Union gives strength to the humble.— SYRUS — Maxims.
Quo res cunque cadant, unum et commune periculum, Una salus ambobus erit. Whatever may be the issue we shall share one common danger, one safety.— VIRGIL — Eneid. II. 709.
Nam ut quisque est vir optimus, ita diffi. cillime esse alios improbos suspicatur. The more virtuous any man is, the less easily does he suspect others to be vicious.— CICERO — Epistolæ Ad Fratrem. I. 1.
Nec vero habere virtutem satis est, quasi artem aliquam, nisi utare. It is not enough merely to possess virtue, as if it were an art; it should practised.— CICERO — De Republica. I. 2.
Virtute enim ipsâ non tam multi præditi esse, quam videri volunt. Fewer possess virtue, than those who wish us to believe that they possess it.— CICERO — De Amicitia. XXVI.
Ipsa quidem virtus præmium sibi. Virtue is indeed its own reward.— CLAUDIANUS — De Consulatu Malli
Theodorii Panegyris. I. Vile latens virtus. Virtue when concealed is a worthless thing.— CLAUDIANUS — De Quarto Consulatu
Honorii Augusti Panegyris. 222. Nihil tam alte natura constituit quo virtus non possit eniti. Nature has placed nothing so high that virtue can not reach it.— QUINTUS CURTIUS RUFUS — De Rebus
Gestis Alexandri Magni. VII. 11. 10. Mea virtute me involvo. I wrap myself up in my virtue.— HORACE — Carmina. III. 29. 55.
Oderunt peccare boni virtutis amore. The good hate sin because they love virtue. S.— HORACE — Epistolæ. I. 16. 52.
Vilius argentum est auro virtutibus aurum. Silver is less valuable than gold, gold than virtue.— HORACE — Epistolæ. I. 1. 52.
Virtus est vitium fugere, et sapientia prima. Virtue consists in avoiding vice, and is the highest wisdom.— HORACE — Epistolæ. I. 1. 41.
Virtutem incolumem odimus, Sublatam ex oculis quærimus. We hate virtue when it is safe; when removed from our sight we diligently seek it.— HORACE — Carmina. III. 24. 31.
Nobilitas sola est atque unica virtus. Virtue is the only and true nobility.— JUVENAL — Satiræ. VIII. 20.
VIII. 20. Probitas laudatur et alget. Virtue is praised and freezes.— JUVENAL — Satiræ. I. 74.
Semita certe Tranquillæ per virtutem patet unica vitæ. The only path to a tranquil life is through virtue.— JUVENAL — Satiræ. X. 363.
Tanto major famæ sitis est quam Virtutis: quis enim virtutem amplectitur ipsam Præmia si tollas. The thirst for fame is much greater than that for virtue; for who would embrace virtue itself if you take away its rewards?— JUVENAL — Satiræ. X. 140.
Virtutem videant, intabescantque relictâ. Let them (the wicked) see the beauty of virtue, and pine at having forsaken her.— PERSIUS — Satiræ. III. 38.
Faut d'la vertu, pas trop n'en faut, L'excès en tout est un défaut. Some virtue is needed, but not too much. Excess in anything is a defect.— MONVEL — From a comic opera, Erreur
d'un Moment. Quoted by DESAUGIERS. See FOURNIER, L'Esprit des Autres. Chap. XXXV. J'aime mieux un vice commode Qu'une fatigante vertu. I prefer an accommodating vice to an ob stinate virtue.— MOLIÈRE — Amphitryon. I. 4.
La naissance n'est rien où la vertu n'est pas. Birth is nothing where virtue is not.— MOLIÈRE — Don Juan: IV. 6.
La vertu d'un cœur noble est la marque certaine. Virtue alone is the unerring sign of a noble soul.— BOILEAU — Satires. V. 42.
Où la vertu va-t-elle se nicher? Where does virtue go to lodge? 0. Exclamation of MOLIÈRE. Toutes grandes vertus conviennent aux grands hommes. All great virtues become great men.— CORNEILLE — Notes de Corneille par
La Rochefoucauld. Con disavvantaggio grande si fa la guerra con chi non ha che perdere. We fight to great disadvantage when we fight with those who have nothing to lose.— GUICCIARDINI — Storia d' Italia.