Edmund Waller Quotes

One cannot always be a hero, but one can always be a man.

Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid...He is the hero, he is everything. He must be a complete man and a common man and yet an unusual man. He must be, to use a rather weathered phrase, a man of honor, by instinct, by inevitability, without thought of it, and certainly without saying it. He must be the best man in his world and a good enough man for any world

Virtue has her heroes too As well as Fame and Fortune.

It is always one's virtues and not one's vices that precipitate one into disaster.

Good character improves every aspect of a person’s life.

Virtue is the desire of things honourable and the power of attaining them.

Virtue and decency are so nearly related that it is difficult to separate them from each other but in our imagination.

A hero is someone who over and over does the right thing even though no one is there to witness it.

Virtue is more to man than either water or fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have never seen a man die from treading the course of virtue.

Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it, piece by piece - by thought, choice, courage, and determination.

I think honesty is the most heroic quality one can aspire to.

A good man with a good conscience doesn't walk so fast.

Virtue is an inner strength. It expands your nature.

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

The ordeal of virtue is to resist all temptation to evil.

It is almost impossible to imagine that any one could be so insensible to the high morality of Mr. Mill's character as to suggest to him any course of conduct that was not entirely upright and consistent.

Even in decline, a virtuous man increases the beauty of his behavior. A burning stick, though turned to the ground, has its flame drawn upwards.

If a man suffers ill, let it be without shame; for this is the only profit when we are dead. You will never say a good word about deeds that are evil and disgraceful.

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.

The superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, act contrary to virtue. In moments of haste, he cleaves to it. In seasons of danger, he cleaves to it.

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.

To keep your character intact you cannot stoop to filthy acts. It makes it easier to stoop the next time.

Innocence in genius, and candor in power, are both noble qualities.

It is better to use fair means and fail, than foul and conquer.

Perfect Valor is to do, without a witness, all that we could do before the whole world.