This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Which is more misshapen - religion without virtue, or virtue without religion?
Cicero, fully Marcus Tullius Cicero, anglicized as Tully NULL
Virtue is uniform, conformable to reason, and of unvarying consistency; nothing can be added to it that can make it more than virtue; nothing can be taken from it, and the name of virtue be left.
Consistency | Nothing | Reason | Virtue | Virtue |
Cicero, fully Marcus Tullius Cicero, anglicized as Tully NULL
The whole of virtue consists in its practice.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, born Mahesh Prasad Varma
The meaning of life is rooted in each person’s search for happiness. Happiness is not something one has to go anywhere to find: The nature of life is happiness. Life knows this about itself, not through analysis or investigation but simply by virtue of being.
Life | Life | Meaning | Nature | Search | Virtue | Virtue | Happiness |
Cicero, fully Marcus Tullius Cicero, anglicized as Tully NULL
There are those who find the “chief good” in virtue. Well, that is a noble doctrine. But the very virtue they talk of is the parent and preserver of friendship, and without it friendship cannot possibly exist.
Cicero, fully Marcus Tullius Cicero, anglicized as Tully NULL
Fewer possess virtue than those who wish us to believe that they possess it.
Cicero, fully Marcus Tullius Cicero, anglicized as Tully NULL
The best audience for the practice of virtue is the approval of one’s own conscience.
Conscience | Practice | Virtue | Virtue | Approval |
Cicero, fully Marcus Tullius Cicero, anglicized as Tully NULL
The existence of virtue depends entirely upon its use.
Cicero, fully Marcus Tullius Cicero, anglicized as Tully NULL
Every generous action loves the public view; yet no theatre for virtue is equal to a consciousness of it.
Action | Consciousness | Public | Virtue | Virtue |
Twelve Things to Remember: The value of time. The success of perseverance. The pleasure of working. The dignity of simplicity. The worth of character. The power of kindness. The influence of example. The obligation of duty. The wisdom of economy. The virtue of patience. The improvement of talent. The joy of originating.
Character | Dignity | Duty | Example | Improvement | Influence | Joy | Kindness | Obligation | Patience | Perseverance | Pleasure | Power | Simplicity | Success | Time | Virtue | Virtue | Wisdom | Worth | Value |
Maya Angelou, born Marguerite Annie Johnson
One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.
Consistency | Courage | Practice | Virtue | Virtue |
In what respect are we superior to brute creation, if intellect is not allowed to be the guide of passion? Brutes hope and fear, love and hate; but, without a capacity to improve, a power of turning these passions to good or evil, they neither acquire virtue nor wisdom. - Why? Because the Creator has not given them reason.
Capacity | Evil | Fear | Good | Hate | Hope | Love | Passion | Power | Reason | Respect | Virtue | Virtue | Wisdom | Respect | Intellect |
Maya Angelou, born Marguerite Annie Johnson
Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without it we can't practice any other virtue with consistency.
Consistency | Courage | Important | Practice | Virtue | Virtue |
Mencius, born Meng Ke or Ko NULL
The poor attend to their own virtue in solitude.
The true source of cheerfulness is benevolence. The pursuits of mankind are commonly frigid and contemptible, and the mistake comes, at last, to be detected. But virtue is a charm that never fades. The soul that perceptually overflows with kindness and sympathy will always be cheerful.
Benevolence | Cheerfulness | Kindness | Mankind | Mistake | Soul | Sympathy | Virtue | Virtue | Will |