--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For a discussion of the Founders’ view…" description: "\"“For a discussion of the Founders’ view that a successful republic required a high level of virtue in the people, see Charles Murray, Coming Apart: The..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/charles-murray-6573_high-level_for-a-discussion-of-the-founders-view-th_2541845.jpg" --- # For a discussion of the Founders’ view that a successful… ![“For a discussion of the Founders’ view that a successful republic required a high level of virtue in the people, see Charles Murray, Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960–2012 (New York: Crown Forum, 2012), chap. 6. 6” quote by Charles Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/charles-murray-6573_high-level_for-a-discussion-of-the-founders-view-th_2541845.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/charles-murray-6573_high-level_for-a-discussion-of-the-founders-view-th_2541845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/charles-murray-6573_high-level_for-a-discussion-of-the-founders-view-th_2541845.jpg) > ““For a discussion of the Founders’ view that a successful republic required a high level of virtue in the people, see Charles Murray, Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960–2012 (New York: Crown Forum, 2012), chap. 6. 6”” [Charles Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-murray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. References a scholarly discussion on the founders’ belief that a republic needs virtuous citizens, citing Murray’s analysis. **In simple terms:** Virtue is essential for a healthy republic. Key Takeaway Cultivate civic virtue for societal stability. Themes civic virtue republic founding ideals Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - civic education - community service - public policy design - historical analysis Key Concepts Moral philosophy political theory social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - What modern policies can foster civic virtue? - How does virtue interact with economic inequality? A Different Perspective Virtue alone may not address structural inequalities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discussion Founders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discussion-founders-1440313/) [High level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-level/) [Level Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/level-virtue-781429/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful Republic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-republic-1440312/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtue People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-people-864275/) ## Related quotes > [“It follows that some people need open enemies if they are to rise to the level of their own virtue, virility, and cheerfulness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-follows-that-some-people-need-open-enemies-if-they-are-to-rise-to/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Our founding fathers recognized that morality was the foundation of a successful republic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barr/our-founding-fathers-recognized-that-morality-was-the-foundation-of-a/) [William Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barr/) > [The virtue of some people consists wholly in condemning the vices in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-virtue-of-some-people-consists-wholly-in-condemning-the-vices-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No free government can stand without virtue in the people, and a lofty spirit of partiotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/no-free-government-can-stand-without-virtue-in-the-people-and-a-lofty/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [Virtue is not always where it seems to be. People sometimes acknowledge favors only to maintain their reputations, and to make themselves more impudently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/virtue-is-not-always-where-it-seems-to-be-people-sometimes/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks-no form of government can render…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/is-there-no-virtue-among-us-if-there-be-not-we-are-in-a-wretched/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Tolerance is a virtue of people who don't believe in anything anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/tolerance-is-a-virtue-of-people-who-don-t-believe-in-anything-anymore/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“It seemed to Jack that if an ordinary human being, his own son, no one particular, could have this purity of mind, then perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-faulks/it-seemed-to-jack-that-if-an-ordinary-human-being-his-own-son-no-one/) [Sebastian Faulks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-faulks/) > [The multitude . . . have not a sufficient stock of reason and knowledge to guide them. . . . It is not safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-multitude-have-not-a-sufficient-stock-of-reason-and-knowledge-to/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Tolerance is the virtue of people who do not believe in anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/tolerance-is-the-virtue-of-people-who-do-not-believe-in-anything/) [Gilbert K. 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When people restrain themselves out of fear, their lives are by necessity diminished. Only through freely chosen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/repression-is-not-the-way-to-virtue-when-people-restrain-themselves/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [“Those with enlightened virtue please the people, those without enlightened virtue please themselves. Those who please the people grow, those who please themselves perish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-cleary/those-with-enlightened-virtue-please-the-people-those-without/) [Thomas Cleary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-cleary/) ## More by Charles Murray > [People are starting to notice the great divide. 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