St Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, Philosopher, c. 354 – 430

“Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.” 

De Moribus Eccl. 1, 25, 46:PL, 32, 1330-1331

The earliest known portrait of Saint Augustine
in a 6th-century fresco, Lateran, Rome.

To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one's heart, with all one's soul and with all one's efforts; from this it comes about that love is kept whole an uncorrupted (through temperance). No misfortune can disturb it (and this is fortitude). It obeys only [God] (and this is justice), and it is careful in discerning things, so as not to be surprised by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence). 

St. Thomas Aquinas, Angelic Doctor, Philosopher, Priest, c. 8 January 1225 – 7 March 1274

An altarpiece in Ascoli Piceno, Italy,
by Carlo Crivelli (15th century)

Summa Theologicae

 I, 25, 2
"Now it is evident from what we have said about the passions (FS, Q[25], AA[2],4) that love is the first affection of the appetitive power, and that desire and joy follow from it. Hence the same virtuous habit inclines us to love and desire the beloved good, and to rejoice in it. But in as much as love is the first of these acts, that virtue takes its name, not from joy, nor from desire, but from love, and is called charity. Hence joy is not a virtue distinct from charity, but an act, or effect, of charity: for which reason it is numbered among the Fruits (Gal. 5:22)."

 I, 52, 1
"Diligence seems to be the same as solicitude, because the more we love[diligimus] a thing the more solicitous are we about it. Hence diligence, no less than solicitude, is required for every virtue, in so far as due acts of reason are requisite for every virtue." 

II, 35, 1
"Sloth is sluggishness of the mind which neglects to begin good... [it] is evil in its effect, if it so oppresses man as to draw him away entirely from good deeds." 

II, 47, 2
"[Prudence is] right reason in action."

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"Gluttony denotes, not any desire of eating and drinking, but an inordinate desire... leaving the order of reason, wherein the good of moral virtue consists."

Six ways to commit gluttony:

• Praepropere - eating too soon.
• Laute - eating too expensively.
• Nimis - eating too much.
• Ardenter - eating too eagerly.
• Studiose - eating too daintily (picky).
• Forente - eating wildly.

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Philosopher, Politician, Lawyer, Rhetorician, Constitutionalist. c.106 BC – 7 December 43 B.C.

Cicero Denounces Catiline, fresco by Cesare Maccari, 1882–88

Pro Plancio:

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.


(Catiline Oration 2.25):

On this side shame does battle; on that, impudence; here modesty, there debauchery; here faith, there deceit; here piety, there wickedness; here steadiness, there rage; here decency, there foulness; here restraint, there lust; here in short equity, temperance, courage, wisdom, all the virtues struggle with iniquity, dissipation, cowardice, foolhardiness – with all the vices. Finally wealth struggles against poverty, right thinking against depravity, sanity against madness – in sum, good hope against desperation in every circumstance.

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher, c. 384-322 B.C.

An early Islamic portrayal of Aristotle
(right) and Alexander the Great.

Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.

Anyone can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person at the right time, and for the right purpose and in the right way - that is not within everyone's power and that is not easy.