On moral virtues Thomas Paine, the writer of ‘Common Sense’, said, “Here, then, is the origin and the rise of government; namely, a mode rendered necessary by the inability of moral virtue to govern the world. According to Britannica, “Moral Virtues” are, “those qualities or states of character that find expression in morally good actions and morally good purposes or intentions. Moral virtues are persistent patterns of behavior and thought rather than transient emotions, aspects of intelligence, or physical characteristics. And, according to Georg Spielthenner in ‘Moral Virtues’, “A moral virtue of S is a personality trait of S which motivates S intrinsically to act in a given situation in a way which is in situations of this kind generally morally right.” He continues with, “virtues are personality traits.” In ‘What Are Moral Virtues’, it is stated that moral virtues are, “habits of the intellect which govern desires and deeds”, while in ‘Is every virtue a moral virtue?’, it is stated that moral virtues “deal with the passions.”
It is clear, moral virtues those virtues that pertain to the individual.
Today, let’s consider the following mortal virtues:
- Ambition
- Charity
- Chastity
- Courage
- Diligence
- Fortitude
- Friendliness
- Gratitude
- Humility
- Liberality
- Magnanimity
- Magnificence
- Modesty
- Patience
- Temperance
- Truthfulness
- Wittiness
Ambition
“Ambition” is defined as “a strong wish to achieve something,” and is sometimes characterized as a vice rather than a virtue. While Aristotle listed “ambition” as one of this twelve virtues (mentioned above), he did have trouble when “he tried to identify the “golden mean” concerning ambition (φιλότιμος) or lack of ambition (ἀφιλότιμος). In Greek, both of those words had either good or bad connotations depending on context. If someone was being ambitious to an unseemly extent, you might compare them unfavorably to a properly unambitious person. But if a person failed to set their sights high, you could also chastise them for not being ambitious,” according to David Gross in ‘Notes On Ambition’. According to Aristotle, “as there is no recognized term for the observance of the mean, the extremes fight, so to speak, for what seems an empty place.”
Charity
“Charity” according to one source is defined as “generous actions or donations to aid people who are poor, ill, or needy; benevolent feeling, especially toward those in need or in disfavor; leniency in judging others; forbearance.” Charity and altruism, a social virtue listed above, are not the same thing. Altruism is a driver for change in work, in life and in our society. Charity is the expression of altruism for individuals, companies and governments. “Charity in its purest sense means love and encompasses our love for God and our love for our fellow people,” according to David Bethuram in ‘Virtue of charity requires us to speak, act and think with love’. Finally, according to St. Thomas Aquinas in the Summa Theologica, “The habit of charity extends not only to the love of God, but also the love of our neighbor.” It seems clear that “charity” is more than “donations to aid people.”
Chastity
“Chastity” is defined as “the state of not having sex with anyone, or of only having sex with your husband or wife.” The word “chastity” comes from the Latin word “castus”, meaning “morally pure,” and to some religious believers, chastity is closely related to a sense of purity and wholesomeness. According to ‘The Cardinal Virtues’, “Chastity moderates the desire for sexual pleasures according to the necessities of life as judged by right reason illuminated by faith”, while according to Wikipedia, “Chastity, also known as purity, is a virtue related to temperance.”
Courage
“Courage” is defined as “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.” In another source, “Courage” is defined as “the ability to do something difficult even when there’s risk.” According to Brené Brown: “The root of the word courage is cor – the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage had a very different definition than it does today. Courage originally meant ‘To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.’ Over time, this definition has changed, and today, courage is more synonymous with being heroic. Heroics is important and we certainly need heroes, but I think we’ve lost touch with the idea that speaking honestly and openly about who we are, about what we’re feeling, and about our experiences (good and bad) is the definition of courage. Heroics is often about putting our life on the line. Ordinary courage is about putting our vulnerability on the line. In today’s world that’s pretty extraordinary.”
Diligence
“Diligence” is defined as “carefulness and persistent effort or work; the belief that work is good in itself.” Diligence describes thoroughness, completeness, and persistence of an action, particularly in matters of faith. As said in Hebrews 6:11–12: “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”
Fortitude
“Fortitude” is defined as “strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage.” In another case, “fortitude” is defined as “courage over a long period.” According to Brian Cosby in ‘What Is Fortitude?’, fortitude is “that strength to courageously endure adversity, which the Lord graciously supplies by His Spirit and through the promises of His Word.” According to ‘The Cardinal Virtues’, “Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptation and to overcome obstacles in the moral life.”
Friendliness
“Friendliness” is defined as “disposition to goodwill, warmth, or kindness to others”. “The friendly person accepts the right words and deeds of others,” according to Howard J. Curzer in ‘Friendliness and Civility’.
Gratitude
“Gratitude” is defined as “readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness; the feeling or quality of being “grateful”, which is defined as “showing or expressing thanks, especially to another person”. According to Tiffany Sauber Millacci, Ph.D. in ‘What is Gratitude and Why Is It So Important?’, “Gratitude is an emotion similar to appreciation. The American Psychological Association (n.d.) more specifically defines this phenomenon as a sense of happiness and thankfulness in response to a fortunate happenstance or tangible gift.”
Humility
“Humility” is defined as “freedom from pride or arrogance: the quality or state of being humble.” In another case, “humility” is defined as “the quality of not being proud because you are aware of your bad qualities.” According to ‘The Cardinal Virtues’, “Humility inclines one to restrain the inordinate desire for his own excellence, giving him a true evaluation of his state before God.”
Liberality
“Liberality” is defined as “respect for and acceptance of many different types of beliefs or behavior” and as “generosity”. According to ‘The Cardinal Virtues’, “Liberality moderates one’s love of external things, especially of riches, and inclines one readily to use one’s goods for the benefit of others. Liberality differs from mercy, beneficence, and magnificence.”
Magnanimity
“Magnanimity” is defined as “showing or suggesting a lofty and courageous spirit; showing or suggesting nobility of feeling and generosity of mind.” According to ‘The Cardinal Virtues’, “Magnanimity inclines one to perform some great act which is worthy of honor. It presupposes a noble and lofty soul, and it is incompatible with mediocrity.”
Magnificence
“Magnificence” is defined as “the state of being very good, beautiful, or deserving to be admired.” According to ‘The Cardinal Virtues’, “Magnificence inclines one to undertake splendid and difficult projects without being disheartened by the magnitude of the work or the great expenses which are connected with it. “
Modesty
“Modesty” is defined as “the quality of not talking about or not trying to make people notice your abilities and achievements”. Other sources define “modesty” as “freedom from vanity, boastfulness.” According to Wikipedia, “The word modesty comes from the Latin word ‘modestus’ which means, ‘keeping within measure’.”
Patience
“Patience” is defined as “the ability to wait, or to continue doing something despite difficulties, or to suffer without complaining or becoming annoyed”. According to ‘The Cardinal Virtues’, “Patience enables one to bear physical and moral sufferings without sadness of spirit or defection of heart.”
Temperance
“Temperance” is defined as “habitual moderation in the indulgence of appetites or passions.” According to ‘The Cardinal Virtues’, “Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. Temperance ensures the will’s mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion. The integral parts of temperance are sense of shame and sense of honor.”
Truthfulness
According to Hewit Young in ‘Truth vs Honesty’, “Honesty and truthfulness are not the same thing. Being honest means not telling lies. Being truthful means actively making known all the full truth of a matter. Lawyers must be honest, but they do not have to be truthful.” According to ‘The Cardinal Virtues’, “Truthfulness inclines one to speak the truth and to manifest externally what he is internally. This virtue is closely related to simplicity and fidelity.”
Wittiness
“Wittiness” is the “ability to be clever and make people laugh”. According to Rebekah Johnston in ‘Aristotle on Wittiness: Verbally Abusing One’s Friends in the Right Way’, “The virtue relevant to telling and listening to jokes, while enjoying leisure time, is wittiness, and witty people are those who joke in a tasteful or tactful manner. Wittiness avoids both the deficiency of boorishness and the excess of buffoonery.” According to Howard Curzer, in ‘Aristotle and the Virtues’, “Aristotle’s decision to list wit as a virtue does not reflect an outmoded, alien belief that a good sense of humor is required to be a morally good person.”
Thanks for reading!