Friendship Quote by Benjamin Franklin
““I think all the heretics I have known have been virtuous men. They have the virtue of fortitude, or they would not venture to own their heresy; and they cannot afford to be deficient in any of the other virtues, as they would give advantage to their many enemies; and they have not, like orthodox sinners, such a number of friends to excuse or justify them.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Letter to a Friend, 1765
Heretics are portrayed as courageous and virtuous, possessing fortitude and other virtues to face opposition, unlike the well‑connected orthodox who lack such resolve.
In simple terms: Heretics are brave and virtuous.
Key Takeaway
Recognize courage in dissent.
Themes
courage
virtue
dissent
orthodoxy
social pressure
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- political activism
- personal moral choices
Key Concepts
fortitude
integrity
resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- What virtues are essential for standing against majority opinion?
- Can virtue exist without wisdom?
A Different Perspective
Heretics may still cause harm despite virtue.
![“[Regarding] the convention that clergymen are more virtuous than other men. Any average selection of mankind, set apart and told that it excels the rest in virtue, must tend to sink below the average.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e78/bertrand-russell-69_atheism_regarding-the-convention-that-clergymen_570434.jpg)
