#virtue

Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.

The best revenge is not to be like that.

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.

Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.

Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.

Simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.

As the sun does not wait for prayers and incantations to be induced to rise, but immediately shines and is greeted by all: so neither wait for applauses, and prate, to do good.

For these alone are each man's own property, which make his actions either shameful or noble.

Who, then, wishes to live in error? No one. Who wishes to live deceived, impetuous, dishonest, intemperate, complaining, abject? No one.

No bad man, then, lives as he wishes; and therefore no bad man is free.

By one day's defeat and giving way, virtue is either lost or preserved.

He walks about with caution, like sick men, fearful of disturbing anything newly formed, until it attains proper stability.

Do you not know that a good man does nothing for the sake of appearance, but solely for the sake of doing right?

As you take care not to step upon a nail, or turn your foot; so likewise take care not to hurt the ruling faculty of your mind.

Giving birth and nourishing, having without possessing, acting with no expectation, leading and not trying to control: this is the supreme virtue.

Tolerant, you are impartial. Impartial, you are kingsize. Kingsize, you are noble. Noble, you are homelike.

When there is no peace in the family, filial piety begins. When the country falls into chaos, patriotism appears.

Let your spirit and your virtue serve the sense of the earth, my brethren: and the value of all things shall be established by you anew!

Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.

That I feed the hungry, that I forgive an insult, that I love my enemy—these are undoubtedly great virtues. But what if I should discover that the least among them all, the poorest of all the beggars, is within me?

Those who follow the Tao are of one with the Tao. Those who follow virtue are of one with virtue.

He who knows what is right will do what is right, for no one voluntarily chooses that which he knows will harm his own nature.

I spend my whole life in going about, persuading you not to care for your bodies or your wealth, but first and foremost to care about the greatest improvement of the soul.

Wealth does not bring about excellence, but excellence brings about wealth and all other goods for men, both in public and in private.

It is the greatest good for an individual every day to converse about virtue, and to test oneself and others.

Virtue does not come from money, but from virtue comes money and every other good of man, both public and private.

A genuine friend is another self, mirroring the virtue and striving of one's own spirit.

The greatest honor you can pay to virtue is to practice it when no one is watching and no reward is promised.

Not life, but a good life, is to be chiefly valued; and a good life is equivalent to a just and honorable life.

The gods give nothing that is really good and noble without labor and careful attention.