Quotes

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Virtue is the nursing-mother of all human pleasures, who, in rendering them just, renders them also pure and permanent; in moderating them, keeps them in breath and appetite; in interdicting those which she herself refuses, whets our desires to those that she allows; and, like a kind and liberal mother, abundantly allows all that nature requires, even to satiety, if not to lassitude
Virtue is the beauty of the soul
Virtue she finds too painful an endeavour, content to dwell in decencies forever
If everyone were clothed with integrity, if every heart were just, frank, kindly, the other virtues would be well-nigh useless
Virtue cannot separate itself from reality without becoming a principle of evil
If you are poor, distinguish yourself by your virtues; if rich, by your good deeds
The most virtuous are those who content themselves with being virtuous without seeking to appear so
Virtue knows that it is impossible to get on without compromise, and tunes herself, as it were, a trifle sharp to allow for an inevitable fall in playing
A virtue to be serviceable must, like gold, be alloyed with some commoner, but more durable alloy
No one gossips about other people's secret virtues
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