Famously Said Random quote

Quotes about virtue

884 quotes from 395 people

Most readBy personPage 42 of 59

He flattered himself on being a man without any prejudices; and this pretension itself is a very great prejudice.
Anatole France1844–1924The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard (1881), Pt. II, ch. 4
- Character
- Pride
We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh, but, instead, we must be simple, humble and pure.
Francis of Assisi1182–1226“Later Admonition and Exhortation to the Brothers and Sisters of Penance,” Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, Volume 1, p. 48.
- Wisdom
Like most of the others, I was a seeker, a mover, a malcontent, and at times a stupid hell-raiser. I was never idle long enough to do much thinking, but I felt somehow that my instincts were right.
Hunter S. Thompson1937–2005The Rum Diary (1998)
- Character
A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others.
Jimmy Carter1924–2024Carter, J. (1977). A government as good as its people. New York: Simon and Schuster.
- Character
- Power
Above all things, one should maintain his self-respect, and there is but one way to do that, and that is to live in accordance with your highest ideal.
Robert G. Ingersoll1833–1899The trial of Charles B. Reynolds for blasphemy (1887)
- Advice
- Character
We cannot evade life’s course, but we can school ourselves to be superior to fortune and also to look unflinchingly upon the most painful things.
Hermann Hesse1877–1962Gertrude (1910), p. 236
- Courage
- Life & Death
It may be better to be a live jackal than a dead lion, but it is better still to be a live lion. And usually easier.
Robert A. Heinlein1907–1988Time Enough for Love (1973)
- Courage
- Life & Death
Every man and woman is a mystery, built like those Chinese puzzles which consist of one box inside another, so that ten or twelve boxes have to be opened before the final solution is found.
Robertson Davies1913–1995The Diary of Samuel Marchbanks (1947)
- Character
When the history of our times is written, will we be remembered as the generation that turned our backs in a moment of global crisis or will it be recorded that we did the right thing?
Nelson Mandela1918–2013Nelson Mandela on Aids, 46664 Concert, Tromso, Norway (11 Jun 2005)
- History
- Responsibility
We do not become righteous by doing righteous deeds but, having been made righteous, we do righteous deeds.
Martin Luther1483–1546Disputation against Scholastic Theology (1517), Thesis 40
- Theology
Two people may be at the same spot in manners and behaviour, and yet one may be getting better, and the other worse, which is the greatest of differences that could possibly exist between them.
George MacDonald1824–1905The Princess and Curdie (1883)
- Character
So material a difference does it make, not what ills are suffered, but what kind of man suffers them. For, stirred up with the same movement, mud exhales a horrible stench, and ointment emits a fragrant odor.
Augustine of Hippo354–430The City of God (early 400s)
- Character
The real test of a man is not how well he plays the role he has invented for himself, but how well he plays the role that destiny assigned to him.
Václav Havel1936–2011Disturbing the Peace (1986), Ch. 2: Writing for the Stage, p. 72
- Character
What I stand for
is what I stand on.
Wendell Berry1934–2026“Below” in A Part (1980)
- Character
- Nature
This life is short, the vanities of the world are transient, but they alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive.
Swami Vivekananda1863–1902“Our Duty to the Masses”, letter to the Maharaja of Mysore (23 June 1894), Complete Works, vol. 4
- Charity
- Life & Death