Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes

These virtues are formed in man by his doing the actions ... The good of man is a working of the soul in the way of excellence in a complete life.

There never was a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous.

To be good is noble but to show others how to be good is nobler.

The virtues [moral excellence] therefore are engendered in us neither by nature nor yet in violation of nature; nature gives us the capacity to receive them, and this capacity is brought to maturity by habit.

Now the goodness that we have to consider is clearly human goodness, since the good or happiness which we set out to seek was human good and human happiness. But human goodness means in our view excellence of soul, not excellence of body.

It is not so important that many should be good as you, as that there be some absolute goodness somewhere; for that will leaven the whole lump.

The only word for goodness is goodness, and it is not enough.

Our good qualities expose us more to hatred and persecution than all the ill we do.

Excellence or virtue in a man will be the disposition which renders him a good man and also which will cause him to perform his function well.

For he that once is good, is ever great.

I'd always found goodness more interesting then evil, though I was aware this wasn't the most general view. To my mind, it took more work and more courage to be good, an opinion continually reinforced by my own shortcomings.

Each of us has more opportunities to do good and to be good than we ever use.

Whatever you are, always be a good one.

There is no virtue so truly great and godlike as justice.

The whole glory of virtue resides in activity.

Nothing can be preserved that is not good.

Try your best to make goodness attractive. That's one of the toughest assignments you'll ever be given.

Even to a wicked man a divinity gives wealth, Cyrnus, but to few men comes the gift of excellence.

If any man should conceive certain things as being really good, such as prudence, temperance, justice, fortitude, he would not after having first conceived these endure to listen to anything which should not be in harmony with what is really good.

Good maxims are the germs of all excellence.

Happiness is an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue

"What is good?" ye ask. To be brave is good. Let the little girls say: "To be good is what is pretty, and at the same time touching."

Noble be man, helpful and good!