Terry Eagleton Quotes

Great and good are seldom the same man.

Virtue is an inner strength. It expands your nature.

Virtue is a habit of the mind, consistent with nature and moderation and reason.

Innocence is not virtue. Virtue demands the active employment of an ardent mind in the promotion of the general good. No man can be eminently virtuous who is not accustomed to an extensive range of reflection.

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.

Where there is no temptation, there is no virtue.

High moral character is not a precondition for great moral accomplishments.

Virtues, like essences, lose their fragrance when exposed.

The walls of that grand edifice called a good character have to be worked at during life.

It is good to be without vices, but it is not good to be without temptations.

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.

Every child is innocent because it has not been tempted, but only when we have been tempted and have remained pure, or when we have fallen, repented and reformed, are we virtuous.

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.

The very spring and root of honesty and virtue lie in good education.

Virtue alone has majesty in death.

Virtue is persecuted more by the wicked than it is loved by the good.

I profoundly believe it takes a lot of practice to become a moral slob.

The virtues, like the Muses, are always seen in groups. A good principle was never found solitary in any breast.

Virtue consists, not in abstaining from vice, but in not desiring it.

To be good, we must do good; and by doing good we take a sure means of being good, as the use and exercise of the muscles increase their power.

Virtue comes by nature, learning, and practice, and thanks to virtue, all of the aforesaid may deserve approval.

To do nothing evil is good; to wish nothing evil is better.

I believe that ideal character in its perfection is potentially in every man who is born into the world.

I consider nothing low but ignorance, vice, and meanness, characteristics generally found where the animal propensities predominate over the higher sentiments.

They err … who think that virtue consists of words .. good actions are the glory of virtue.