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Quotes about virtue

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But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
William Shakespeare1564–1616Henry V (1599), Act IV, Scene III, spoken by King HenryIn context
- Honor
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.
William Shakespeare1564–1616Henry V (1599), Act IV, Scene III, spoken by King HenryIn context
And gentlemen in England now abed
Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.
William Shakespeare1564–1616Henry V (1599), Act IV, Scene III, spoken by King HenryIn context
- Honor
- War & Peace
To speak frankly, I am not in favour of long engagements. They give people the opportunity of finding out each other’s character before marriage, which I think is never advisable.
Oscar Wilde1854–1900The Importance of Being Earnest (1895), Third Act, spoken by Lady BracknellIn context
- Character
- Marriage
Philosopher, metaphysician,
Rhymer, brawler, and musician,
Famed for his lunar expedition,
And the unnumbered duels he fought,⁠—
And lover also,⁠—by interposition!⁠—
Here lies Hercule Savinien
De Cyrano de Bergerac,
Who was everything, yet was naught.
Edmond Rostand1868–1918Cyrano de Bergerac (1897), Act V: Cyrano’s Gazette, Scene VI, spoken by CyranoIn context
- Character
- Life & Death
What say you? It is useless? Ay, I know
But who fights ever hoping for success?
I fought for lost cause, and for fruitless quest!
Edmond Rostand1868–1918Cyrano de Bergerac (1897), Act V: Cyrano’s Gazette, Scene VI, spoken by CyranoIn context
- Courage
- Failure
I know you now, old enemies of mine!
Falsehood!
Have at you! Ha! and Compromise!
Prejudice, Treachery!…
Surrender, I?
Parley? No, never! You too, Folly,⁠—you?
I know that you will lay me low at last;
Let be! Yet I fall fighting, fighting still!
Edmond Rostand1868–1918Cyrano de Bergerac (1897), Act V: Cyrano’s Gazette, Scene VI, spoken by CyranoIn context
- Courage
- Enemies
You strip from me the laurel and the rose!
Take all! Despite you there is yet one thing
I hold against you all, and when, to-night,
I enter Christ’s fair courts, and, lowly bowed,
Sweep with doffed casque the heavens’ threshold blue,
One thing is left, that, void of stain or smutch,
I bear away despite you.
Edmond Rostand1868–1918Cyrano de Bergerac (1897), Act V: Cyrano’s Gazette, Scene VI, spoken by CyranoIn context
- Honor
- Pride
Abashed the Devil stood,
And felt how awful goodness is, and saw
Virtue in her shape how lovely
John Milton1608–1674Paradise Lost (1667), Book IVIn context
- Good & Evil
Not as though thou hadst thousands of years to live. Death hangs over thee: whilst yet thou livest, whilst thou mayest, be good.
Marcus Aurelius121–180Meditations (c. 170–180), The Fourth BookIn context
- Life & Death
Whatsoever any man either doth or saith, thou must be good; not for any man’s sake, but for thine own nature’s sake; as if either gold, or the emerald, or purple, should ever be saying to themselves, Whatsoever any man either doth or saith, I must still be an emerald, and I must keep my colour.
Marcus Aurelius121–180Meditations (c. 170–180), The Seventh BookIn context
- Character
I have often wondered how it should come to pass, that every man loving himself best, should more regard other men’s opinions concerning himself than his own.
Marcus Aurelius121–180Meditations (c. 170–180), The Twelfth BookIn context
- Character
- Thinking
The first opinion which one forms of a prince, and of his understanding, is by observing the men he has around him
Niccolò Machiavelli1469–1527The Prince (1532), Chapter XXIIIn context
- Character
- Leadership
The greater part of what my neighbors call good I believe in my soul to be bad, and if I repent of anything, it is very likely to be my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?
Henry David Thoreau1817–1862Walden (1854), Economy (1 of 3)In context
- Morality
When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember, that virtue is not hereditary.
Thomas Paine1737–1809Common Sense (1776), Part 3In context
- Family