Every one suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known. F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby honesty Ironic Quotes
— Then, will you take young Pegg? He impressed me so favourably. — I wonder your halo doesn't grow heavy. It must be like wearing a tiara round the clock. — Will you help him? His mother would be very grateful. And so would I. — Yes, but your gratitude never seems too last. I've no sooner said yes than you come back with another request. Downton Abbey Season 4 Episode 5 Dowager Countess of Grantham Isobel Crawley
Virtus est vitium fugere, et sapientia prima stultitia caruisse. Horace Epistles vices stupidity wisdom
There is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents. Thomas Jefferson talent aristocracy
The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath... Your whole life you hear that quoted. I never got it till now. Mercy is not something you ever get to request. Not strained means not forced. It's given freely. No reason. Just a gift drops from the sky. Twice blessed. Blessing him that gives and him that takes. Wakefield Howard Wakefield mercy mutual help
— The fact that he chose you, Fanny, is evidence of his good character. He could make you very happy, and you would be the making of him. — It is not certain that a man must be acceptable to every woman he likes. Mansfield Park (1999) Edmund Bertram Fanny Price man and woman Ironic Quotes
Most people who believe they are virtuous are hard to live with. Sadhguru Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy human, people environment, surroundings perception life quotes
Everywhere, religions... from exalting life to purging joy as a sin. Rome does it as grand opera. A simple path to goodness needs a supernatural roadmap. The Man from Earth Dan (anthropologist) religion Rome Christianity
We cannot expect to cross the rainbow bridge through a good act of contrition; that will not be sufficient. We have to understand. Terence McKenna goodness human, people
Unhappy as the event must be for Lydia, we may draw from it this useful lesson: — that loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable, that one false step involves her in endless ruin, that her reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful, and that she cannot be too much guarded in her behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex. Jane Ostin Pride & Prejudice Mary women reputation
One would rather bear the criticism of lacking virtue than pursue the emptiness of mercy. Wu Jiudian After Becoming The Tyrant Old Duke of Buckingham mercy criticism Wise Quotes