Virtue

"Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism." - unknown.

There is a museum in Newfoundland that contains a hand-stitched embroidered sampler that reads, " Virtue is the chiefest beauty of the mind, the noblest ornament of humankind. Virtue is our safeguard and our guiding star that stirs up reason when our senses err." (1813)

What is virtue, and why should we concern ourselves with it? Virtue is the lifelong effort to shape one's character toward what is good, noble, and true. I was always under the impression that it referred to sexual purity (chastity), but after doing some research, I found that it is much more complicated than that. It is a way of thinking and acting according to mankind's most noble values.

In classical philosophy, especially in Plato's and Aristotle's work, virtue meant human excellence. They identified four main areas that they called the Cardinal Virtues that, if cultivated, would refine a person's character. They are courage, temperance, justice, and prudence. Each was considered a hinge: virtue is the ideal, but taken too far in either direction, it can become a character flaw. Let's take courage as an example: too little, and you are a coward, too much, you are reckless; both are bad in their own way.

We do not use terms such as temperance or prudence very often, so let's look at some simple definitions of the Cardinal Virtues.

1. Courage -The ability to face fear, difficulty, or suffering for the sake of what is right.
2. Temperance -The ability to govern one's desires, impulses, and appetites.
3. Justice -The commitment to fairness, responsibility, and respect for others.
4. Wisdom (Prudence) -The ability to discern the right course of action in complex situations.

These virtues are symbiotic; for one to stay in balance, it must draw upon the others. Justice without temperance is harsh, while wisdom without justice is manipulation.

Benjamin Franklin was passionate about self-improvement and created a system to try to improve thirteen areas in his life. He added modern concerns, such as physical health and time management, to create The 13 Virtues of Life. If you would like to read about his progress, he documented it in his autobiography. Which virtues are most important for you? For us to fully assess our level of virtuosity, let's break each of the Cardinal Virtues into its components.

Courage-

• Bravery – acting despite fear
• Moral courage – standing up for what is right even when unpopular
• Perseverance – continuing despite hardship or discouragement
• Fortitude – enduring pain, difficulty, or adversity without surrender
• Integrity under pressure – refusing to abandon principles when tested
• Honesty – speaking truth when silence would be easier
• Resolve – maintaining commitment to difficult goals

Temperance-

• Self-discipline – doing what needs to be done regardless of mood
• Moderation – avoiding excess in pleasure, consumption, or indulgence
• Patience – tolerating delays, frustration, or inconvenience calmly
• Humility – having a balanced view of one's importance
• Restraint – pausing before reacting emotionally
• Contentment – not being ruled by constant craving or comparison
• Emotional regulation – controlling anger, envy, and resentment

Justice-

• Fairness – treating people impartially and without favoritism
• Respect – acknowledging the dignity and rights of others
• Honoring commitments – keeping promises and fulfilling obligations
• Accountability – taking responsibility for one's actions
• Loyalty – standing by those who depend on you
• Gratitude – recognizing and honoring what others have given
• Service – contributing to the well-being of the community

Wisdom-

• Discernment – distinguishing truth from illusion or manipulation
• Good judgment – making sound decisions after thoughtful consideration
• Foresight – anticipating long-term consequences
• Learning from experience – reflecting on mistakes and adjusting behavior
• Practical reasoning – applying knowledge effectively in real situations
• Open-mindedness – being willing to revise beliefs when evidence changes
• Self-knowledge – understanding one's strengths, limits, and motives

Other components of virtue should also be considered. "Choose silence of all virtues, for by it you hear other men's imperfections and conceal your own." -George Bernard Shaw. LOL, 😄. If you have not found something lacking in your character from that list, then I am pretty sure that you are not human.

Obtaining many of these virtues will not mean that your life will be without its share of problems. In fact, you may open yourself to even more pain and disappointment. "The best people possess a feeling for beauty, the courage to take risks, the discipline to tell the truth, the capacity for sacrifice. Ironically, these virtues make them vulnerable; they are often wounded, sometimes destroyed." - Ernest Hemingway. A virtue, though, is a strength, an inner pillar that will hold you up even while taking a beating. This is the beauty of virtue. It is also important to remember that although you may strive for justice, life itself is not obligated to be just. "Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall." - William Shakespeare.

I was lamenting to my sister about the lack of goodness in modern heroes/heroines. Today's creators seem to delight in showing everyone how flawed and morally corrupt we humans are. What happened to the virtuous heroes? Are there not people who are courageous, loyal, compassionate, and honorable? This is not a modern problem. J.R.R. Tolkien noticed it in his day as well. He had watched Europe lose its faith in heroic ideals from living through two world wars. He felt that people no longer valued virtues, such as kindness, nurturing, or compassion, and worse, they considered them weaknesses. He wrote The Lord of the Rings with the intention of restoring virtue to storytelling. He wanted to show that virtues were not weaknesses; they were strengths, a higher form of courage. None of his characters were perfect, but each showcased different strengths of character.

• Frodo – endurance and mercy
• Sam – loyalty and humility
• Aragorn – responsibility and restraint
• Arwen – devotion and sacrifice
• Éowyn – my favorite character. She was a warrior, brave and capable of fighting and succeeding in the world. She also battled her own demons of self-worth and feeling a lack of recognition as a woman. After the war, she did not pursue glory but chose a life as a healer. Truly someone to aspire to be. I hope we will choose to support those who tell tales of virtuous heroines and honorable heroes—and strive for excellence in our own character for the sake of the rising generations and the world around us.

Love and Hope,

Big Sky Baby