Path of Righteousness: Higher Standard

A virtue is a trait or quality considered to be morally good and valued as a foundation for ethical behavior and personal excellence.  It is also a disposition that is considered beneficial and praiseworthy in a person.  The goal is often the cultivation and refinement of these traits to live a purposeful, excellent, and fulfilling life.  The opposite of a virtue is a vice.  The concept of virtues has been central to philosophy and religion for centuries, with different traditions emphasizing various sets of qualities.  Here are the key qualities and virtues one must strive for, persist with and keep.

Common Examples of Virtues

Many other qualities are commonly recognized as virtues, including: Honesty, Kindness, Patience, Loyalty, Humility, Diligence, Integrity and Respect.

🕊️ Theological Virtues

Source: (The Source) Are infused by God's grace.  They cannot be acquired by human effort alone.  These represent the core of spiritual life.  In traditional iconography, they are often depicted as three sisters.

• Faith: The Cross.  It represents belief and steadfastness in the divine.

• Hope: The Anchor.  This stems from the idea of the soul being anchored in a "safe and steadfast" promise (often used in early maritime and Christian art).

• Charity (Love): The Heart or a Flame.  It signifies the warmth of selfless love and the "burning" desire to do good for others.

• Object: Relate directly to God. (e.g., Faith is in God; Hope is for God's promises; Love is of God.)

🏛️ Cardinal Virtues

Source: (The Foundation/Hinge) Plato and later thinkers identified the four following Cardinal Virtues: Can be acquired and practiced through natural human effort and good habit (reason and discipline).  These are the "hinge" virtues (from the Latin cardo, meaning hinge) that form the basis of a moral life.

Prudence: The Mirror and Snake.  

• The mirror represents self-reflection and seeing the world as it is; the snake represents wisdom ("wise as serpents").

Justice: The Scales and Sword.  

• The scales represent balance and fairness, while the sword represents the power of the law.

Fortitude: The Lion or a Broken Column.  

• These represent inner strength, courage, and the ability to remain standing under pressure.

Temperance: Two Water Pitchers.  

• Usually depicted as one vessel pouring liquid into another to "water down" wine, symbolizing moderation and self-control.

• Object: Relate to right living and moral conduct in relation to other people and worldly matters.

🎓 Philosophical Virtues

Source: (The Reason) While these overlap with the others (especially the Cardinal virtues, which come from Plato), classical philosophy—particularly Stoicism—often focuses on these pillars:

Wisdom (Sophia): The Owl.  

• Historically associated with Athena, it represents the ability to see through the darkness and grasp the truth.

Courage (Andreia): The Shield.  

• Unlike the "strength" of fortitude, this specifically represents the protection of one's principles and the community.

Righteousness (Dikaiosyne): The Plumb Line.  

• In a philosophical sense, this represents being "upright" and aligning one's life with the natural order.

Moderation (Sophrosyne): The Bridle.  

• It represents the "reining in" of the passions and the ego to maintain a balanced mind.

Ancient Greek philosophy, notably Aristotle, emphasized virtues as the "golden mean" between two extremes (vices).

• Courage:  The mean between cowardice (deficiency) and foolhardiness (excess).

• Temperance:  The mean between insensibility (deficiency) and intemperance/gluttony (excess).

• Generosity:  The mean between miserliness (deficiency) and profligacy (excess).