Term

virtue

Moral worth. In this dialogue Cicero means it in an everyday sense: honesty, justice, generosity and consistency in what you do.

On Friendship, Marcus Tullius Cicero

Explained in

• On Friendship, Marcus Tullius Cicero
• Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love & Wisdom, Rick Hanson, Richard Mendius

  In the book: the ability to guide your actions, words and thoughts so that they benefit you and others. One of the three pillars of Buddhist practice.

• The Enchiridion, Epictetus

  A person's good inner character: honesty, self-control, courage, fairness — the things that depend entirely on us.

• The Autobiography: The Thirteen Virtues, Benjamin Franklin

  A good quality of character that shows up in actions — honesty, moderation, industry, for example. For Franklin, this isn’t an abstract concept but concrete behavior you can train.

• Meditations, Marcus Aurelius

  Good character in action: justice, courage, self-restraint, and wisdom. For a Stoic, this is the only true good.

• Letters from a Stoic, Seneca

  Good character in action: honesty, courage, self-control, and sound judgment. For a Stoic, this is the only real wealth there is.

All terms