Strive somehow to possess universal, noble qualities

Usage examples of virtues.

But as Jones knew not those virtues in so short an acquaintance, his caution was perhaps prudent and commendable enough.

We shall be left defending, not only the incredible virtues and sanities of human life, but something more incredible still, this huge impossible universe which stares us in the face.

His mouth was now as effectually stopt, as that of quack must be, if, in the midst of a declamation on the great virtues of his pills and powders, the corpse of one of his martyrs should be brought forth, and deposited before the stage, as a testimony of his skill.

This aversion--the very antipodes to hypocrisy--leads men not only to disclaim the virtues they have, but to pretend to the vices they have not.

I fancy, in the virtues of fighting, though he may be in those of council.

There was also another trait in her character which, though arising in her weakness, not her virtues, yet perpetuated the more dreamlike and imaginary qualities of our passion: this was a melancholy superstition, developing itself in forebodings and omens which interested, because they were steeped at once in the poetry and in the deep sincerity of her nature.

But this manner was only the faint mirror of a mind which, retaining much of its former mould, had been embellished and exalted by adversity, and which if it banished not its former faculties, had acquired a thousand new virtues to redeem them.

So great circumvention, and so great depreciation, in speaking of the gifts one has, seems to me to hide a little vanity under an apparent modesty, and craftily to try to make others believe in greater virtues than are imputed to us.

Its best answer is arrived at by reversing the predicate and the subject, and you at once form a contradictory maxim equally true, our vices are most frequently but virtues disguised.

Wealth Alain would inherit from his father, but there were many other virtues he must display in abundance in order to rule as count after him.

All of these virtues Lavastine had and to spare: shrewdness, military prowess, boldness, liberality, and a stubborn and dogged determination to defend his possessions and prerogatives.

Her love for his great virtues and imperial honor melted her heart, and they were married as soon as she came of age.

They are ancient civilizations with strange virtues buried like treasures.

We ought to be interested in that darkest and most real part of a man in which dwell not the vices that he does not display, but the virtues that he cannot.

Like all the Christian virtues, it is as unreasonable as it is indispensable.