Cardinal Virtues
Four hinges on which the moral life turns
The cardinal virtues are the four foundational moral virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. Christian writers such as Ambrose and Augustine adopted them from Greek philosophy and set them within a Christian vision of the moral life. As 'hinges' on which good character turns, they came to anchor much of the Church's ethical teaching, later joined to the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love.
How it traveled
- TitusEphesus · 67applies
- The Life of Constantine with Orations of Constantine and EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- The LettersCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379explains
- Select Orations of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · 390explains
- On the Duties of the ClergyMilan · 397explains
- The Homilies of St. John ChrysostomConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Homilies on First CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and ThessaloniansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and PhilemonConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- A Commentary on the Acts of the ApostlesConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Commentary and Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Galatians and EphesiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the HebrewsConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the RomansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Homilies on Second CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. JohnConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies on the Statues to the People of AntiochConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Treatise Concerning the Christian PriesthoodConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- A Treatise to Prove that No One Can Harm the Man Who Does Not Injure HimselfConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Letters of St. JeromeBethlehem · 420explains
- City of GodHippo Regius · 430explains
- On the Morals of the Catholic ChurchHippo Regius · 430explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- On Christian DoctrineHippo Regius · 430explains
- On the Good of MarriageHippo Regius · 430explains
- The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal FaultsMarseille · 435explains
- The Ecclesiastical History of SozomenConstantinople (Istanbul) · 450explains
- The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of TheodoretCyrrhus · 458explains
- The Letters and Sermons of Leo the GreatRome · 461explains
- The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the GreatRome · 604explains
- Selected Epistles of Gregory the GreatRome · 604explains
- Treatise on Man (qq[75]-102)Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59)Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90)Paris · 1274explains
- Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the GospelGeneva · 1564explains
- Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from ItGeneva · 1564explains
- A Dissertation on the Nature of True VirtueNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three PartsNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- Seventeen Occasional SermonsNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758applies
- Thoughts on the Revival of Religion in New EnglandNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- a careful and strict inquiry into the prevailing notions of the freedom of willNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
Key passages(20)
City of God · Augustine of Hippo
What shall I say of that virtue which is called prudence? Is not all its vigilance spent in the discernment of good from evil things, so that no mistake may be admitted about what we should desire and
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City of God · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 20.—That It is as Shameful for the Virtues to Serve Human Glory as Bodily Pleasure. Philosophers,—who place the end of human good in virtue itself, in order to put to shame certain other phil
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Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
4. But has he who has one virtue all virtues? and has he no virtues who lacks one? If this be true, the sentence of the apostle is thereby confirmed. But what I desire is to have the sentence explaine
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On the Decease of His Brother Satyrus · Ambrose of Milan
51. But in what words can I set forth his simplicity? By this I mean a certain moderation of character and soberness of mind. Pardon me, I beseech you, and attribute it to my grief, if I allow myself
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On the Duties of the Clergy · Ambrose of Milan
176. Fortitude, therefore, is a loftier virtue than the rest, but it is also one that never stands alone. For it never depends on itself alone. Moreover, fortitude without justice is the source of wic
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On the Duties of the Clergy · Ambrose of Milan
200. Therefore it is the duty of a brave man not to shut his eyes when anything threatens, but to put it before him and to search it out as it were in the mirror of his mind, and to meet the future wi
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On the Duties of the Clergy · Ambrose of Milan
209. But as fortitude is proved not only by prosperity but also in adversity, let us now consider the death of Judas Maccabæus. For he, after Nicanor, the general of King Demetrius, was defeated, bold
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On the Duties of the Clergy · Ambrose of Milan
41. Since the giving of good advice is a great means of gaining men’s affections, prudence and justice are much needed in every case. These are looked for by most, so that confidence at once is placed
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On the Duties of the Clergy · Ambrose of Milan
A third element which tends to gain any one’s confidence is shown to have been conspicuous in Moses, Daniel, and Joseph. 56. But a third point seems also to have been noted in the case of those who w
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On the Morals of the Catholic Church · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 19.—Description of the Duties of Temperance, According to the Sacred Scriptures. 35. It is now time to return to the four virtues, and to draw out and prescribe a way of life in conformity wi
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On the Morals of the Catholic Church · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 16.—Harmony of the Old and New Testaments. 26. I will briefly set forth the manner of life according to these virtues, one by one, after I have brought forward, as I promised, passages from t
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On the Morals of the Catholic Church · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 15.—The Christian Definition of the Four Virtues. 25. As to virtue leading us to a happy life, I hold virtue to be nothing else than perfect love of God. For the fourfold division of virtue I
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Objection 3: Further, as was said above (FS, Q[65], AA[1],2), all the virtues are bound together. But it was not becoming for Christ to have all the virtues, as is clear in the case of liberality and
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A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 18 [XIII.]—Perfect Human Righteousness is Imperfect. There are then on earth righteous men, there are great men, brave, prudent, chaste, patient, 1 John i. 8.
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A Treatise to Prove that No One Can Harm the Man Who Does Not Injure Himself · John Chrysostom
11. For what harm was done to this hero by his bodily infirmity? or by the absence of protectors? or by the coming of the dogs? or the evil proximity of the rich man? or by the great luxury, haughtine
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City of God · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 25.—That Where There is No True Religion There are No True Virtues. For though the soul may seem to rule the body admirably, and the reason the vices, if the soul and reason do not themselves
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City of God · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 20.—Concerning Virtue and Faith, Which the Pagans Have Honored with Temples and Sacred Rites, Passing by Other Good Qualities, Which Ought Likewise to Have Been Worshipped, If Deity Was Rightl
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Concerning Widows · Ambrose of Milan
By the example of Judith is shown that courage is not wanting in widows; her preparation for her visit to Holofernes is dwelt upon, as also her chastity and her wisdom, her sobriety and moderation. La
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Defence of His Flight. (Apologia de Fuga.) · Athanasius of Alexandria
18. The Saints who fled were no cowards. Of a truth no one can possibly doubt that they were well furnished with the virtue of fortitude. For the Patriarch Jacob who had before fled from Esau, feared
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Discussion: Second Part · Martin Luther
Sect. CXX. — AND as to your saying — “Yet every affection of man is not flesh. There is an affection called, soul: there is an affection called, spirit: by which, we aspire to what is meritoriously go
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