Virtues that shun the day and lie concealed in the smooth seasons and the calm of life.—Addison.
That virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarce worth the sentinel.—Goldsmith.
Why expect that extraordinary virtues should be in one person united, when one virtue makes a man extraordinary? Alexander is eminent for his courage; Ptolemy for his wisdom; Scipio for his continence; Trajan for his love of truth; Constantius for his temperance.—Zimmermann.
Virtue dwells at the head of a river, to which we cannot get but by rowing against the stream.—Feltham.
Our virtues live upon our income, our vices consume our capital.—J. Petit Senn.
Wealth is a weak anchor, and glory cannot support a man; this is the law of God, that virtue only is firm, and cannot be shaken by a tempest.—Pythagoras.
All bow to virtue and then walk away.—De Finod.
Virtue is an angel; but she is a blind one, and must ask of Knowledge to show her the pathway that leads to her goal. Mere knowledge, on the other hand, like a Swiss mercenary, is ready to combat either in the ranks of sin or under the banners of righteousness,—ready to forge cannon-balls or to print New Testaments, to navigate a corsair's vessel or a missionary ship.—Horace Mann.
Vulgarity.—The vulgarity of inanimate things requires time to get accustomed to; but living, breathing, bustling, plotting, planning, human vulgarity is a species of moral ipecacuanha, enough to destroy any comfort.—Carlyle.
Dirty work wants little talent and no conscience.—George Eliot.