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The Promise of Virtue Author: Eugene F. Hemrick Ave Maria Press, 1999, Notre Dame, IN Paragraph from the Introduction: Several reasons have prompted the writing of this book, the main reason being to help us realize that we don’t have to travel the world to find that “something special.” [peace of mind] It is not out there somewhere. We don’t need gurus, or to run off to join clubs and the right circle of people. Nor will pills, wealth, or prestige help us in finding it. What we seek is a spirit that already exists within us, and its name is virtue. We need only to surface it, learn of it better, and practice it to achieve that something special. No better means exists on earth for giving us the fortified spirits we seek. Table of Contents: I. Kindness II. Humor III. Understanding IV. Respect V. Courage VI. Clear-sightedness VII. Silence Selected Quotes in the chapters on virtues: Virtue is the harmony between the parts of the soul --- Plato Kindness is a language which the dumb can speak, and the deaf can hear --- C.N. Bovee Kindness is the ability to love people more than they deserve --- Anonymous If you don’t know how to go with the flow, you better be a good upstream swimmer --- Anonymous In laughter there is always a kind of joyousness that is incompatible with contempt or indignation — Voltaire You grow up the day you have your first real laugh at yourself --- Ethel Barrymore Tough it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you --- Proverbs 4:7 There is no such thing as a trifle, a simple detail may reveal a universe --- Goethe Respect the faculty that form they judgments --- Marcus Aurelius Courtesy is an everyday affair, but how important it is for the whole of life! --- Romano Guardini Courage is almost a contradiction in terms: It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die --- G.K. Chesterton Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage --- Anais Nin Seek advice from every wise person and do not despise any useful counsel --- Tobit 4:18 Speech must die to serve that which is spoken --- Paul Ricoeur Return to Sources page |