Virtue and Vice
‹ 3 · Outline · 5 ›
4.The origin and acquisition of virtue: nature, habit, education and trial
4a.Virtue as natural, or as the gift of grace
See also: Man 7a · Charity 1a
Plutarch, DemosthenesVol. 12
- p. 191Virtue, like a durable plant, can take root in any obscure place where it finds an ingenuous, industrious nature.read · scan
Chapters from the KoranVol. 45
- p. 926Joseph claims he did not betray his master, yet admits the soul is urgent to evil save by God's mercy.read · scan
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of ChristVol. 7
- p. 269–270No virtue belongs to any man; boasting is vanity.read · scan
- p. 315–316Grace given so that one progresses in virtue and humility.read · scan
- p. 324–325Grace shows generosity, constancy in want, love of enemies, and holiness versus selfishness and covetousness.read · scan
- p. 327–328Faith, hope and every virtue are unaccepted without love and grace; grace enriches the poor in spirit with virtues.read · scan
- p. 337–338The sacrament gives love of virtue, regains lost virtue and restores beauty disfigured by sin.read · scan
Michel de Montaigne, Of the Institution and Education of ChildrenVol. 32
- p. 48–50Virtue dwells in a pleasant plain easily reached, enemy to austerity and compulsion, with nature as guide.read · scan
William Harrison, A Description of Elizabethan EnglandVol. 35
- p. 378Italy is called corrupt and licentious; only God's grace lets a traveller return a good man.read · scan
Sir Francis Drake, Sir Francis Drake RevivedVol. 33
- p. 125Virtue, like lands, is not inheritable, though the successor resolves to prove himself worthy.read · scan
Francis Bacon, Essays, Civil and MoralVol. 3
- p. 32Goodness may be habit guided by reason or natural disposition; opposed to natural malignity, envy and mischief.read · scan
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio MediciVol. 3
- p. 311Virtue born of nature is happier than forced education, yet natural morality falls short of charity's higher motives.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 149The wise child is virtue, the old foolish king is man's innate malignity that rules all members and leads to perdition.read · scan
- p. 150–151Miton sees men are averse to virtue but not why they cannot rise higher.read · scan
- p. 166–167Virtue comes from God; even faith cannot be had by ourselves, and merit is an ambiguous word.read · scan
- p. 174Without Christ man is in vice and misery; in Him is all our virtue and happiness.read · scan
- p. 221Virtues are Christ's own and foreign to us; sins are ours.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, A Discourse upon the Origin and the Foundation of the Inequality among MankindVol. 34
- p. 176The faculty of improvement produces man's discoveries, mistakes, virtues and vices.read · scan
- p. 185–186Without moral relations savages are neither good nor bad; asks whether civilized men have more virtues or vices.read · scan
- p. 187Rejects Hobbes: savages are not bad because they know no virtue; calm passions and ignorance of vice restrain them.read · scan
- p. 187Pity is the one natural virtue that Hobbes and Mandeville overlooked or had to concede.read · scan
- p. 189All social virtues (generosity, clemency, humanity, friendship) flow from pity.read · scan
- p. 189–190Pity stands in the state of nature for laws, manners and virtue; reluctance to do evil comes from it.read · scan
- p. 205A sense of morality began to enter human actions, and natural compassion was altered.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarVol. 34
- p. 269Virtue is agreeable to human nature; man not naturally wicked, and we admire heroic actions and great minds beyond private interest.read · scan
- p. 273–274Love of virtue and hatred of vice are as natural as self-love; reason reveals virtue and conscience makes us love it.read · scan
Friedrich Schiller, William TellVol. 26
- p. 432–434Bertha says the noble nature in Rudenz only slumbers and will be roused; he is noble despite himself.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, An Address Delivered before the Senior Class in Divinity CollegeVol. 5
- p. 28Moral sentiment is a divine, deifying beatitude persisting even in fallen men.read · scan
- p. 36Genuine impulses of virtue from the heart, not from others, give the good clergy their sanctity of character.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Over-SoulVol. 5
- p. 137The simple rise into the region of all virtues; to the pure soul all virtues are natural.read · scan
John Ruskin, Sesame and LiliesVol. 28
- p. 100–101Only by becoming noble and loving the wise can one enter; no vile or vulgar person enters.read · scan
4b.Education and example in forming virtue
See also: Education 9d · Habit 3b · Diversion 11b · Desire 5a
Confucius, The Sayings of ConfuciusVol. 44
- p. 22–23Pick out the good in others and follow it; see the bad and shun it.read · scan
Plato, The Apology of SocratesVol. 2
- p. 7Sons, like foals, need someone who understands their proper human and political excellence.read · scan
- p. 19He exhorts men to regard virtue, neglecting his own concerns like a father or elder brother.read · scan
- p. 28–30He asks that his sons be reproved if they care for riches more than virtue.read · scan
Plutarch, PericlesVol. 12
- p. 35–36Acts of virtue, merely stated, inspire admiration and a desire to imitate, unlike goods of fortune; moral good is a practical stimulus.read · scan
Plutarch, AntonyVol. 12
- p. 329Caesar's gentle handling cures Antony of much folly and extravagance.read · scan
Pliny the Younger, Letters of PlinyVol. 9
- p. 215–216Public honors for a pure, dignified youth are meant as an example stimulating young men to worthy principles.read · scan
- p. 283–284Young men display probity and courage, building fame on the polite arts; Pliny as example to them.read · scan
Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations of Marcus AureliusVol. 2
- p. 193Marcus credits grandfather, father and mother with teaching good morals, modesty, piety, beneficence and simple living free of the habits of the rich.read · scan
- p. 195Maximus as model: self-government, cheerfulness, sincerity, beneficence, forgiveness, freedom from falsehood.read · scan
- p. 237Be simple, good, pure, serious, kind, friend of justice; imitate Antoninus's constancy, evenness, freedom from empty fame.read · scan
- p. 237Antoninus modelled as examplar: patient, laborious, sparing, not timid or suspicious, tolerant of criticism and of frank speech.read · scan
- p. 241Nothing delights like examples of virtue in those living with us, such as activity, modesty, liberality.read · scan
- p. 292–293Recall men of former times who practised virtue; Socrates avoids receiving favours he cannot return.read · scan
Niccolò Machiavelli, The PrinceVol. 36
- p. 19Wise man imitates the great to acquire something of their virtue, like the archer aiming high.read · scan
Sir Thomas More, UtopiaVol. 36
- p. 183–187Elders' gravity restrains the young from wanton license, and meals begin with reading about good manners and virtue.read · scan
- p. 210Virtue is encouraged by rewards and keeps marital love, not beauty.read · scan
- p. 224Recounting the dead's virtues provokes the living to virtue.read · scan
- p. 232Religious fear of God is called the chief incitation to virtue, hence children are placed beside elders.read · scan
Michel de Montaigne, Of the Institution and Education of ChildrenVol. 32
- p. 45–47Learning should teach what valour, temperance and justice are and the difference between ambition and avarice.read · scan
- p. 53–54Aristotle instructed Alexander in valour, magnanimity and temperance more than in arts.read · scan
- p. 58Look for wisdom, justice, courage, temperance and integrity in the pupil's actions.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 211Patience, piety, valour and prudence are taught through exemplary heroes whom the aspiring knight should imitate.read · scan
- p. 211–213Amadis shown as exemplar of prudence, valour, courage, patience, constancy and love.read · scan
Sir Philip Sidney, The Defense of PoesyVol. 27
- p. 13The ending end of all earthly learning is virtuous action; skills that best produce it deserve to be princes of the rest.read · scan
- p. 14–15Philosopher and historian contend over who better teaches virtue; one gives precept, the other example.read · scan
- p. 15–16Knowledge of men's manners is supreme; those who plant goodness in the soul deserve the best commendation.read · scan
- p. 50Reading Virgil makes an honest man sooner than philosophers' precepts.read · scan
Francis Bacon, The New AtlantisVol. 3
- p. 162–163Family head reproves those given to vice and ill courses.read · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 867–868Young man compared to virgin parchment capable of vicious or honourable inscription; soldierly virtues of patience and boldness.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Mr. George HerbertVol. 15
- p. 375His mother feared he might lose the virtue and innocence she had planted in him.read · scan
- p. 379–380Herbert marked for virtue, to be a pattern to the clergy.read · scan
- p. 386–387His piety and bounty derive from his mother and ancestors.read · scan
- p. 395A virtuous clergyman's life is the most powerful eloquence; the age needs good examples more than precepts.read · scan
- p. 404–405His holy life and example persuade others to practical piety and win reverence.read · scan
John Milton, Tractate on EducationVol. 3
- p. 236Possessing the soul of true virtue joined to faith makes up highest perfection.read · scan
- p. 238–239Education is called virtuous and noble, fitting a man to perform all offices justly, skilfully and magnanimously.read · scan
- p. 239Pupils are to be won early to the love of virtue and true labor through persuasion and example.read · scan
- p. 242Pupils are instructed in the knowledge of virtue and hatred of vice through the moral philosophers.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, LettersVol. 48
- p. 356We correct ourselves better by seeing evil than by good example, since goodness is rare.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 238Porter bids the boys flee youthful lusts and follow godliness with the wise.read · scan
- p. 252–253Honest exhorts the boys to virtue like Matthew, Samuel, Joseph and James; Christian's faith and sincerity are praised.read · scan
John Dryden, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 386–387Contrasts the profligate age with her innocence and morals bred by her father's example.read · scan
John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning EducationVol. 37
- p. 6–7The aim of education is to produce virtuous, useful and able men in their callings.read · scan
- p. 28–29Parents unwittingly sow the seeds of vice and put children out of the way of virtue.read · scan
- p. 29–30Vanity, lying and intemperance are instilled in children by parental example and encouragement.read · scan
- p. 37Bribing children lays foundations of future vices instead of virtue.read · scan
- p. 40Desires made to assist virtue by tying enjoyments to reputation, so children come to love virtue.read · scan
- p. 47Plant civility and good nature in the mind early; outward ornaments follow.read · scan
- p. 49Servants' ill precedents infect children in civility and virtue, teaching vices.read · scan
- p. 50Schools risk contagion of rudeness and vice; forming minds to virtue and good breeding matters more than learned languages.read · scan
- p. 51Virtue is harder to get and recover than worldly knowledge; vice is the more stubborn and dangerous evil to fence against first.read · scan
- p. 52Principles and practice of virtue and good breeding take most pains to instill; confidence joined to vice only ruins the boy.read · scan
- p. 53Justice, generosity and sobriety, not schoolboy cheats and roughness, make an able man; virtue is the only sure foundation of fortune.read · scan
- p. 54Vice ripens early and spreads; virtue is the hard and valuable aim of education, to which all accomplishments give way.read · scan
- p. 59Servants and ill-ordered children spoil children by bad patterns and giving vicious pleasures with commendation.read · scan
- p. 65Virtues and vices are best shown through others' actions, which make children dislike and be ashamed of faults.read · scan
- p. 66–67Vicious tendencies like lying should be checked at first appearance; premature prohibitions teach children the faults.read · scan
- p. 70The aim is a mind well-principled and tempered to virtue and usefulness, correcting wrong inclinations and ignorance.read · scan
- p. 71–72True virtue and generosity, with good breeding, are what make a pupil's qualities useful and esteemed.read · scan
- p. 72Virtue and good qualities are the mind's riches but need breeding to be welcome; without it courage looks like brutality.read · scan
- p. 76Without virtue, knowledge of the world and civility no accomplished man can be found.read · scan
- p. 78–79Principles of virtue and wisdom, with love of what is excellent, matter more than learning.read · scan
- p. 83–84Seeds of vice must be weeded out early so the child's mind turns to virtue and honour.read · scan
- p. 88–89Contentment in want is a virtue to be rewarded as a natural consequence of good behaviour.read · scan
- p. 90Civility and deference win respect and love more than insolent domineering.read · scan
- p. 91Liberality and civility are encouraged as virtues, covetousness as vice.read · scan
- p. 91–93Ingenuous detestation of dishonesty instilled early is the true method to prevent the crime.read · scan
- p. 100–101Tenderness to all sensible creatures is cultivated; cruelty destroys compassion.read · scan
- p. 111–112Indulgent gifts teach children pride, vanity and covetousness almost before they speak.read · scan
- p. 115–116Virtue placed first among a gentleman's endowments, needed to be valued by others and to be happy in this world and the next.read · scan
- p. 118Foundations of virtue: notion of God, truthfulness, good nature; injustice springs from excess self-love.read · scan
- p. 127A virtuous or wise man is valued infinitely above a great scholar; learning can make the ill-disposed worse.read · scan
- p. 146Teacher should make nothing the child's business but downright virtue, and reprove only vice.read · scan
- p. 153Virtue and a well-tempered soul outrank learning; without them, learning only makes a worse, more dangerous man.read · scan
- p. 157Virtue is taught more by practice than rules; love of reputation made habitual; moral reading limited to the Bible until Tully's Offices.read · scan
William Penn, Some Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 342–343Virtue treated as mere supplement in the inheritance of the rich.read · scan
Jonathan Swift, On the Death of Esther Johnson [Stella]Vol. 27
- p. 122She never swerved from the principles of honour and virtue he taught her from childhood.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 12–13Parents described as pious, prudent, discreet and virtuous.read · scan
- p. 69The Art of Virtue would improve private character and thereby aid public and domestic happiness.read · scan
- p. 77Sermons faulted for teaching no moral principle; he wants preaching of virtue rather than sectarian points.read · scan
- p. 93–94Hemphill's sermons inculcated practice of virtue, or good works.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarVol. 34
- p. 234The priest's example of honesty with alms teaches integrity and gratitude.read · scan
- p. 302–304Will inculcate virtue and set an example.read · scan
John Woolman, The Journal of John WoolmanVol. 1
- p. 210–211Virtue is the loveliest ornament of youth; shun evil company.read · scan
- p. 232–233Inward piety and virtue should be shown constantly by example.read · scan
Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of NationsVol. 10
- p. 518–519Disorderly parents corrupt children's morals, making them public nuisances, while the industrious are useful to society.read · scan
William Ellery Channing, On the Elevation of the Laboring ClassesVol. 28
- p. 334–335Knowledge fails of its best end when it does not minister to high virtue.read · scan
Thomas Carlyle, Inaugural Address at EdinburghVol. 25
- p. 376What everyone must be taught is faithful obedience, modesty, humility and correct moral conduct.read · scan
George Long, The Philosophy of AntoninusVol. 2
- p. 320–321Stoic precepts formed conduct: Cato made his life conform to them, sustained by good conscience.read · scan
John Stuart Mill, AutobiographyVol. 25
- p. 71–72Admiration for lives of heroic persons gave valuable poetic culture.read · scan
- p. 72–74Heroic virtue of Socrates and Turgot in biographies deeply inspired Mill, lifting feeling and thought.read · scan
Charles Darwin, The Voyage of the BeagleVol. 29
- p. 418Defends the morality of Tahitian women, attributing European female virtue to mothers' early training and religious precepts, and rebuking harsh critics.read · scan
John Ruskin, Sesame and LiliesVol. 28
- p. 110Roguery, lying, covetousness and quarrelsomeness are to be flogged out; God loves active, modest, kind people.read · scan
4c.Habit, self-denial and the discipline of passions
Plato, PhaedoVol. 2
- p. 74–75Civil virtues of temperance and justice, acquired by habit without philosophy, earn a gentler rebirth.read · scan
Buddhist WritingsVol. 45
- p. 701–702The Blessed One says the man who guards his conduct and trains thoughts and wisdom disentangles the snarl.read · scan
- p. 703–704Conduct, concentration and wisdom each purify and abandon corruptions: bad practices, desire, heresy.read · scan
- p. 711–712Nobly trained mind is praised as source of imperturbable peace.read · scan
- p. 739Guarding conduct and training thought and wisdom is the way the strenuous priest disentangles the snarl.read · scan
Plutarch, PericlesVol. 12
- p. 39–40Zeno argues that imitating gravity may instil real love of noble qualities.read · scan
Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of EpictetusVol. 2
- p. 143Fear, envy, malignity, avarice, effeminacy and intemperance named as vices to expel from the mind.read · scan
- p. 170–171Putting away malice, rashness, foulness of tongue and sluggishness merits more celebration than winning high office.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, HellVol. 20
- p. 106Dante reins in his natural powers lest they run where virtue does not guide.read · scan
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of ChristVol. 7
- p. 208Self-mastery, rooting out vice and planting virtue matter more than learning; a holy life is better than talk.read · scan
- p. 231Contempt of world, discipline, repentance, obedience and self-denial give confidence of a happy death.read · scan
- p. 235Progress in virtue comes by overcoming the hardest passions and sins to which one is inclined.read · scan
- p. 237Virtue requires diligence and zeal; small faults lead to greater; resisting sins is harder than bodily toil.read · scan
- p. 262–263Petitioner, weak in love and imperfect in virtue, asks to be cleansed of evil passions and inordinate affections.read · scan
- p. 282–283Those who despise the world and practice self-denial know the sweetness of virtue.read · scan
- p. 301–302Half-hearted resignation returns to own devices and makes no progress in virtue.read · scan
- p. 320–321Urges humble works and self-mortification when fervour for virtue fails.read · scan
- p. 323–324Self-love is the root evil to be uprooted; mortifying inordinate affections brings peace.read · scan
Sir Thomas More, UtopiaVol. 36
- p. 142Convicts are so ordered that they cannot but become good and make amends.read · scan
Michel de Montaigne, Of BookesVol. 32
- p. 91–93Seneca labors to arm virtue against weakness, fear and vicious desires; Plutarch scorns their force less anxiously.read · scan
Francis Bacon, Essays, Civil and MoralVol. 3
- p. 107Deformed persons free themselves from scorn by either virtue or malice; discipline and virtue can obscure natural inclination.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 162Hamlet counsels the Queen to assume a virtue if she has it not, and practise abstinence.read · scan
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio MediciVol. 3
- p. 323Vices like pride and avarice resist divinity but may yield to pills.read · scan
John Milton, Poems Written at Horton, 1632-1638Vol. 4
- p. 57–62She rejects Comus's offer: what is not good is not delicious to a well-governed, wise appetite.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 188–189The righteous understand by 'enemy' their passions; transgressors fall in God's right ways.read · scan
- p. 311–312Worldly ease and divine ease are inverse.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, LettersVol. 48
- p. 325–326Error of thinking one can stop at a degree of perfection; one must always mount higher.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 44–45Better a difficult right way than an easy wrong way.read · scan
- p. 270–271Old men are prone to mistake weakened passions for conquered corruption.read · scan
John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning EducationVol. 37
- p. 26–27Foundation of all virtue is denying one's desires and following what reason directs as best.read · scan
- p. 31The principle of all virtue lies in denying ourselves desires that reason does not authorize.read · scan
- p. 55One brought to submit to virtue will not be refractory in anything becoming.read · scan
- p. 173Mastery of inclinations and submitting appetite to reason, settled by practice, is the hardest and chief part of forming virtue.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 78–80Franklin plans to achieve moral perfection, listing thirteen virtues with precepts.read · scan
- p. 81–83Progress in virtue is tracked by clearing faults from his lines; mottoes praise virtue.read · scan
- p. 83Self-examination of faults with daily schedule; surprised at how many faults he has, though they diminish.read · scan
- p. 85Though never perfect, the endeavor made him better; each virtue produced particular benefits.read · scan
- p. 90Members practise virtues by systematic examination; habit of virtue frees a man from dominion of vice.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarVol. 34
- p. 240Virtuous resolution left his faults exposed; reflection is preserved by being content with oneself.read · scan
- p. 264–266Vices end where necessities and senseless desires end; pure spirits have no reason to be vicious.read · scan
- p. 277–278Man of nature is virtuous unconstrained; vicious habits corrupt us and make us slaves to passions.read · scan
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceVol. 24
- p. 223–224Just prejudice renders virtue habitual and duty natural.read · scan
Friedrich von Schiller, Letters upon the Aesthetic Education of ManVol. 32
- p. 246Moral intensity of character should moderate sensuous intensity as a free act.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 66–67Cristoforo's character: meek yet zealous for truth and justice, a hasty temper habitually mastered by will, devoted to protecting the oppressed.read · scan
- p. 357–358Federigo's charity, humility and gentleness, the fruit of discipline over a hasty temper, shown in courtesy to the poor.read · scan
- p. 642–643Renzo's moral lessons on self-government and restraint.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Over-SoulVol. 5
- p. 147He ceases from what is base and frivolous and renders service content.read · scan
John Stuart Mill, On LibertyVol. 25
- p. 254The same strong susceptibilities generate the most passionate love of virtue and sternest self-control.read · scan
- p. 262–264Movements for moral improvement push a standard of desiring nothing strongly, maiming prominent parts of human nature.read · scan
John Ruskin, Sesame and LiliesVol. 28
- p. 114–116Instinctive reckless virtue cannot last; passions must be disciplined or they discipline the nation.read · scan
4d.The trial of virtue by temptation and knowledge of vice
See also: Liberty 1c
The Book of PsalmsVol. 44
- p. 322–323Prays not to be inclined to evil or share the wicked's dainties; welcomes reproof from the righteous.read · scan
Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of EpictetusVol. 2
- p. 156Others' vices exercise one's own virtues of gentleness and good temper.read · scan
Epictetus, Fragments Attributed to EpictetusVol. 2
- p. 183–185The soul that keeps company with virtue is a pure spring; reason should not be embittered with vice.read · scan
Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations of Marcus AureliusVol. 2
- p. 242When hindered by force, turn the obstacle toward exercising another virtue, with contentment and tranquillity.read · scan
- p. 250–251Urges resolving to be a good man in every act and using events as material for virtue.read · scan
- p. 252Whatever presents itself is material for virtue, rational and political.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 213The pious abstainer's resolve gives way to the temptation of drink and pleasant company.read · scan
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of ChristVol. 7
- p. 216–217Temptation and adversity prove a man and reveal his virtue and progress.read · scan
- p. 220Adversity shows a man's temper; the saints' hardships serve as examples of perfectness.read · scan
- p. 265Striving against evil motions and temptation is a token of virtue and merit.read · scan
- p. 300–301Labours, sorrows and humiliations help unto virtue; the saints bore all with patience.read · scan
Sir Thomas More, UtopiaVol. 36
- p. 179Opens on how vices assault virtues by open force and secret wiles, and how virtues resist and overcome them.read · scan
Martin Luther, Concerning Christian LibertyVol. 36
- p. 376Virtues like poverty, honesty, humility and purity are imperilled amid riches, business, honours and pleasures.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 310Anselmo holds a woman's virtue proven only when tested by solicitation; goodness from fear or lack of occasion is worthless.read · scan
- p. 315A woman is imperfect and should be aided toward the perfection of virtue, not tempted to stumble.read · scan
- p. 320–321Lothario fears himself in temptation and avoids it by feigning sleep.read · scan
- p. 322Anselmo tests Camilla's chastity against the temptation of gifts.read · scan
Sir Philip Sidney, The Defense of PoesyVol. 27
- p. 26–27As geometry needs the oblique, seeing evil's filthiness lets one perceive virtue's beauty; comic types teach us to know such men.read · scan
William Shakespeare, Songs and SonnetsVol. 40
- p. 276–277Those with power to hurt who do none, slow to temptation, are stewards of grace; sweetest things turn sourest by deeds.read · scan
Ben Jonson, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 293–294Not to know vice is virtue; next best is to know it well and guard the mind.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Mr. George HerbertVol. 15
- p. 376–377She holds souls take in vice from wicked company as bodies from food; ignorance of vice best preserves virtue.read · scan
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio MediciVol. 3
- p. 305No easy road to virtue; men's lives contradict their doctrines; virtue needs complete armour against every vice.read · scan
- p. 315Contraries give life to one another; abolishing vice destroys virtue, and virtue grows more excellent as vice spreads.read · scan
John Milton, AreopagiticaVol. 3
- p. 201A cloistered virtue untried is blank; true virtue must know vice and abstain, as Spenser's Guyon in Mammon's cave.read · scan
- p. 204Books are useful materials for strong medicines of life to those skilled to prepare them; only children and childish men are harmed.read · scan
- p. 206If every action were compelled, virtue would be a mere name and there would be no praise for being sober or just.read · scan
- p. 207Virtue and sin share the same matter; removing temptations removes virtue, and God prefers one completed virtuous person to the restraint of ten vicious.read · scan
John Milton, Poems Written at Horton, 1632-1638Vol. 4
- p. 57The Elder Brother holds virtue may be assailed but never hurt, surprised but not enthralled.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise LostVol. 4
- p. 261Eve asks what virtue is unassayed; Adam says trial should be avoided rather than sought.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise RegainedVol. 4
- p. 405Christ proves invincible to temptation, wise and good, scorning honours and riches; Satan's pride brings his fall.read · scan
John Milton, Samson AgonistesVol. 4
- p. 415Bad wives obstruct a man's way to virtue; virtue that overcomes temptation shines most.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 149–150The evil leaven is fed with wisdom's bread; the poor wise man who delivers the besieged city is virtue against temptation.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 240–241Christian's slips serve as warning to later pilgrims; he had brave victory.read · scan
John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning EducationVol. 37
- p. 76Sheltering a youth from knowledge of vice leaves him a prey to it when he comes abroad.read · scan
William Penn, Some Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 358Innocence is mere absence of guilt; virtue is overcoming one's own evil inclinations and particular weakness.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarVol. 34
- p. 260–261Liberty lets man choose good and merit virtue.read · scan
Thomas Gray, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 449–451Adversity, daughter of Jove, forms Virtue's infant mind, teaching her to pity others' woe and scattering false friends.read · scan
John Woolman, The Journal of John WoolmanVol. 1
- p. 269He labors to improve by trials and avoid selfishness.read · scan
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceVol. 24
- p. 187–188Virtue and wisdom found in any station deserve place and honour; virtue is tried by difficulty.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Tragedy of Faust, Part IVol. 19
- p. 110–113Faust remarks on Margaret's virtue and modest heed; Mephistopheles' devilish tempting with idleness and the potion frames vice.read · scan
William Wordsworth, Essay Supplementary to PrefaceVol. 39
- p. 316–317Fame compared to virtue, whose vigour comes from the enemies it provokes.read · scan
William Wordsworth, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 620Michael prays Luke will remember his innocent forefathers who did good deeds amid temptation and evil companions.read · scan
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, On Poesy or ArtVol. 27
- p. 263Virtue consists in overcoming vices, not merely their absence.read · scan
William Ellery Channing, On the Elevation of the Laboring ClassesVol. 28
- p. 331–332Virtue is named as the absolute and ultimate good; man contends against a tempting, sinful world.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, CompensationVol. 5
- p. 97–98We gain the strength of the temptation we resist; every fault is made useful.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 290–291Repeated trials will strengthen the Prince until he no longer thinks of the temptation.read · scan
John Stuart Mill, On LibertyVol. 25
- p. 277Bad example of self-regarding vice displays also its painful consequences, so is on balance salutary.read · scan
Charles Darwin, The Voyage of the BeagleVol. 29
- p. 509Travel cultivates good-humoured patience and freedom from selfishness, and reveals disinterested kindness in strangers.read · scan
‹ 3 · Outline · 5 ›