Francois de La Rochefoucauld Quotes

A man has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so.

Perfect valour consists in doing without witnesses that which we would be capable of doing before everyone.

Virtue has its own reward, but no sale at the box office.

Perfect courage is to do without witnesses what one would be capable of doing with the world looking on.

Don't undo a brave and noble deed. Don't rob yourself of your own virtue.

The true measure of a man is what he would do if he knew he would never be caught.

Say not that honor is the child of boldness, nor believe thou that the hazard of life alone can pay the price of it: it is not to the action that it is due, but to the manner of performing it.

I say that no man can be greater than the man who bravely and heroically sacrifices his life for the good of others. No man can be greater than the one who meets death face to face, and yet will not shrink from what he believes to be his highest duty.

Aspire rather to be a hero than merely appear one.

True freedom is where an individual's thoughts and actions are in alignment with that which is true, correct, and of honor - no matter the personal price.

What is character? It is that quality of man which is going to make a man, in an hour of strain, do the just and, if possible, the generous thing.

I had rather have a plain, russet-coated Captain, that knows what he fights for, and loves what he knows, than that which you call a Gentle-man and is nothing else.

Heroes are those who can somehow resist the power of the situation and act out of noble motives, or behave in ways that do not demean others when they easily can.

My character and good name are in my own keeping. Life with disgrace is dreadful. A glorious death is to be envied.

It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything.

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.

It is better to be defeated standing for a high principle than to run by committing subterfuge.

Everyone tries to define this thing called Character. It's not hard. Character is doing what's right when nobody's looking.

He who defends his money is a martyr, and who defends his religion is a martyr, and he who defends his honor is a martyr.

When were the good and the brave ever in a majority?

I'm simply saying that heroes are people whose activities, whose attitudes, and whose judgment you just think, 'Wow. That's good. That's right. That's real.'

I don't want to just be a great fighter, but also a great man.

Listen to your conscience regarding something that you simply know you should do, then start small on it - make a promise and keep it. Then move forward and make a little larger promise and keep it. Eventually you'll discover that your sense of honor will become greater than your moods, and that will give you a level of confidence and excitement that you can move to other areas where you feel you need to make improvements or give service.

Taro taught me that people respect spirit, but even cowards don't respect cowards.