Seven Cardinal Virtues: An Examination of Moral Integrity - Couverture souple

"Perhaps it might be said of many men, that they have no ideal. And this is their condemnation. They have no object in life; they have never reflected why they are alive. Their course is determined, not by their own choice, but by the blind forces of appetite within, and of conventionality without. Such may truly be said to be dead while they live; for surely in such a vast and perilous enterprise as the voyage of life, the first duty of every one who claims to be a man is to be aware where he is going."

CONTENTS:

Chapter I Wisdom

Chapter II Courage

Chapter III Temperance

Chapter IV Justice

Chapter V Faith

Chapter VI Hope

Chapter VII Love

“Aristotle says, 'There is no such thing as love to God; it is absurd to speak of anything of the kind; for God is a unknowable being.' It is impossible to conceive words which could bring out more clearly the contrast between the circle of thought within which the ancient world moved, and that wherein those move who have obtained their notions of the universe from the Bible.

"Even in the Old Testament God is a being who loves, and loves intensely: 'Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him.' 'Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet will I not forget you!' 'Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, with loving kindness have I drawn you.' 'I will betroth you unto Me forever; yes, I will betroth you unto me in righteousness and in judgment and in loving kindness and in mercies; I will even betroth you unto me in faithfulness; and you shall know the Lord.'

"In the New Testament the revelation of the love of God is carried much further, until it culminates in the incomparable saying, 'God is love.'

"It is often said that any modern child acquainted with the rudiments of science stands on a far higher level than Aristotle, though he was the most scientific head in the ancient world, so far have the discoveries of modern times left the ancient world behind.

"And it is just as true to say that any modern child acquainted with the Bible stands high above Aristotle in the knowledge of God. To Aristotle God was, according to the sage's own admission, an unknown being. But to those who have the Bible in their hands, He is a being known, living and infinitely loving; and this renders possible the budding of the noblest blossom of the heart — the love of God.

"Just as a human heart is born with the kinds of love already discussed — love to parents, love to friends, love to children, and so on — potential in it, waiting only for time and opportunity to burst and develop, so every heart is born with the capacity of loving God; and this must, in the nature of the case, be the highest and most influential of all such capabilities.

"But the sunshine which opens the bud, causing the potentiality to become actuality — is the love of God revealed and realized. So John explained its philosophy, 'We love Him — because He first loved us.'”