I am no herald to inquire of men's pedigrees; it sufficeth me if I know their virtues.

We have been fortunate enough to live at a time when virtue, though it does not triumph, is nonetheless not always tormented by attack dogs. Beaten down, sickly, virtue has now been allowed to enter in all its tatters and sit in the corner, as long as it doesn't raise its voice.

We must not forget that our vocation is to practice virtue that men are won to it; it is possible to be morally upright repulsively.

Heaven made virtue; man, the appearance.

Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.