Virtuous Quotes - Page 23

• To be innocent is to be not guilty; but to be virtuous is to overcome our evil inclinations.

  William Penn

  Evil, Overcoming, Guilty

  William Penn (1841). “Fruits of solitude in reflections and maxims relating to the conduct of human life. A new ed”, p.73

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• Most of the harm in the world is done by good people, and not by accident, lapse, or omission. It is the result of their deliberate actions, long persevered in, which they hold to be motivated by high ideals toward virtuous ends... ...when millions are slaughtered, when torture is practiced, starvation enforced, oppression made a policy, as at present over a large part of the world, and as it has often been in the past, it must be at the behest of very many good people, and even by their direct action, for what they consider a worthy object.

  Isabel Paterson

  Past, Direct Action, Omission

  Isabel Paterson (1993). “God of the Machine”, p.235, Transaction Publishers

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• Most of the harm in the world is done by good people, and not by accident, lapse, or omission. It is the result of their deliberate actions, long persevered in, which they hold to be motivated by high ideals toward virtuous ends.

  Isabel Paterson

  School, Omission, Long

  Isabel Paterson (1993). “God of the Machine”, p.235, Transaction Publishers

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• I am the mother of the wicked, as I am the mother of the virtuous. Never fear. Whenever you are in distress, say to yourself, ‘I have a mother.

  Sarada Devi

  Mother, Wicked, Never Fear

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• The primary goal in the education of children is to teach, and to give the example of, a virtuous life.

  Saint John Chrysostom

  Children, Giving, Goal

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• Improved perception of our somatic feelings not only gives us greater knowledge of ourselves but also enables greater somatic skill, facility, and range of movement that can afford our sensory organs greater scope in giving us knowledge of the world. Besides augmenting our own possibilities of pleasure , such improved somatic functioning and awareness can give us greater power in performing virtuous acts for the benefit of others, since all action somehow depends on the efficacy of our bodily instrument.

  Richard Shusterman

  Philosophy, Skills, Medicine

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• We have been accustomed to thinking that we have to get something from outside us in order to be happy, but in truth it works the other way: we must learn to contact our inner source of happiness and satisfaction and flow it outward to share with others-not because it is virtuous to do so, but because it really feels good.

  Shakti Gawain

  Happiness, Thinking, Order

  Shakti Gawain (2016). “Creative Visualization - 40th Anniversary Edition: Use the Power of Your Imagination to Create What You Want in Your Life”, p.50, New World Library

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• To be happy, one must rid oneself of prejudice, be virtuous, healthy, and have a capacity for enjoyment and for passion.

  Emilie du Chatelet

  Happiness, Passion, Healthy

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• The sound and proper exercise of the imagination may be made to contribute to the cultivation of all that is virtuous and estimable in the human character.

  John Abercrombie

  Character, Exercise, Imagination

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• Le Chiffre was serving a wonderful purpose, a really vital purpose, perhaps the best and highest purpose of all. By his evil existence, which foolishly I have helped to destroy, he was creating a norm of badness by which, and by which alone, an opposite norm of goodness could exist. We were privileged, in our short knowledge of him, to see and estimate his wickedness and we emerge from the acquaintanceship better and more virtuous men.

  Ian Fleming

  Men, Creating, Evil

  "Casino Royale". Book by Ian Fleming, Ch. 20: "The Nature Of Evil", 1953.

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• Obstacles may retard, but they cannot long prevent the progress of a movement sanctified by its justice, and sustained by a virtuous people .

  Jefferson Davis

  Long, People, Justice

  Jefferson Davis (2004). “Jefferson Davis: The Essential Writings”, p.202, Modern Library

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• Beauty has so many charms, one knows not how to speak against it; and when it happens that a graceful figure is the habitation of a virtuous soul, when the beauty of the face speaks out the modesty and humility of the mind, and the justness of the proportion raises our thoughts up to the heart and wisdom of the great Creator, something may be allowed it,--and something to the embellishments which set it off; and yet, when the whole apology is read, it will be found at last that beauty, like truth, never is so glorious as when it goes the plainest.

  Laurence Sterne

  Beauty, Humility, Heart

  Laurence Sterne (1823). “The Works of Laurence Sterne: With a Life of the Author”, p.241

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• Advice, as it always gives a temporary appearance of superiority, can never be very grateful, even when it is most necessary or most judicious. But for the same reason everyone is eager to instruct his neighbours. To be wise or to be virtuous is to buy dignity and importance at a high price; but when nothing is necessary to elevation but detection of the follies or faults of others, no man is so insensible to the voice of fame as to linger on the ground.

  Samuel Johnson

  Wise, Grateful, Men

  The Rambler, No 87, January 15, 1751.

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• All transitory titles I detest; a virtuous life I mean to boast alone. Our birth's our sires'; our virtues be our own.

  Michael Drayton

  Mean, Titles, Birth

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• Greed for enlightenment and immortality is no different than greed for material wealth. It is self-centered and dualistic, and thus an obstacle to true attainment. Therefore these states are never achieved by those who covet them; rather, they are the reward of the virtuous.

  Laozi

  Self, Achievement, Greed

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• When men are about to commit, or sanction the commission of some injustice, it is not uncommon for them to express pity for the object either of that or some parallel proceeding, and to feel themselves, at the time, quite virtuous and moral, and immensely superior to those who express no pity at all. This is a kind of upholding of faith above works, and is very comfortable.

  Charles Dickens

  Faith, Men, Moral

  Charles Dickens (1839). “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby”, p.539

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• I will point ye out the right path of a virtuous and noble Education; laborious indeed at first ascent, but else so smooth, so green, so full of goodly prospect, and melodious sounds on every side, that the harp of Orpheus was not more charming.

  John Milton

  Education, Path, Firsts

  John Locke, John Milton (1830). “Some thoughts concerning education”, p.275

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• There are three marks of a superior man: being virtuous, he is free from anxiety; being wise, he is free from perplexity; being brave, he is free from fear.

  Confucius

  Wise, Men, Bravery

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• The wise man applauds he who he thinks most virtuous; the rest of the world applauds the wealthy.

  Samuel Johnson

  Wise, Men, Thinking

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• When the perfect order prevails, the world is like a home shared by all. Leaders are capable and virtuous. Everyone loves and respects their own parents and children as well as the parents and children of others. The old are cared for, adults have jobs, children are nourished and educated. There is a means of support for all those who are disabled or find themselves alone in the world. Everyone has an appropriate role to play in the family and society. Devotion to public duty leaves no place for idleness. Scheming for ill gain is unknown. Sharing displaces selfishness and materialism.

  Confucius

  Inspirational, Motivational, Jobs

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• A virtuous man or woman who is determined to develop the Supreme Enlightened Mind, should thus develop it: I have to lead all living beings to put a stop to (reincarnation) and escape (suffering), and when they have been so led, not one of them in fact stops (reincarnating) or escapes suffering. Why? Because, if a Bodhisattva believes in the notion of an ego, a personality, or a living being, he is not a true Bodhisattva.

  Gautama Buddha

  Buddhist, Believe, Men

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• If venereal delight and the power of propagating the species were permitted only to the virtuous, it would make the world very good.

  James Boswell

  Delight, World, Very Good

  James Boswell, Mark Harris (1981). “The heart of Boswell: six journals in one volume”, McGraw-Hill Companies

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• It is the business of a virtuous clergyman to censure vice in every appearance of it.

  Patrick Henry

  Vices, Appearance, Clergy

  "Patrick Henry in his speeches and writings and in the words of his contemporaries".

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• Now, mark my words. So long as we are a young and virtuous people, this instument will bind us together in mutual interests, mutual welfare, and mutual happiness. But when we become old and corrupt, it will bind no longer.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Mutual Interest, Long, People

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• A virtuous abstinence from the joys of pederasty comes most easily to those who have no taste for it.

  Oscar Wilde

  Joy, Taste, Abstinence

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