--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Virtue is more to man than either water…" description: "\"Virtue is more to man than either water or fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have never seen a man die from treading the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/confucius-164_confucian_virtue-is-more-to-man-than-either-water_2652138.jpg" --- # Virtue is more to man than either water or fire. I have… ![“Virtue is more to man than either water or fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have never seen a man die from treading the course of virtue.” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/confucius-164_confucian_virtue-is-more-to-man-than-either-water_2652138.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/confucius-164_confucian_virtue-is-more-to-man-than-either-water_2652138.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/confucius-164_confucian_virtue-is-more-to-man-than-either-water_2652138.jpg) > “Virtue is more to man than either water or fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have never seen a man die from treading the course of virtue.” [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Virtue is more essential to humanity than natural elements, and no one dies from practicing it. **In simple terms:** Virtue is vital and harmless. Key Takeaway Cultivate virtue daily. Themes ethics human nature philosophy Mood reflective serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts Confucianism moral development Questions to Reflect On - How does virtue influence your decisions? - Can virtue replace material security? A Different Perspective Virtue alone may not protect from external dangers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confucian/) [Course Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/course-virtue-2358134/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Die Treading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-treading-2358135/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Treading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treading/) [Treading water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treading-water/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtue Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-man-532020/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Water and fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water-and-fire/) ## Related quotes > [Heaven begat Virtue in me; what can man do unto me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/heaven-begat-virtue-in-me-what-can-man-do-unto-me/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Men's natures are alike; it is their habits that separate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/men-s-natures-are-alike-it-is-their-habits-that-separate-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-a-man-takes-no-thought-about-what-is-distant-he-will-find-sorrow/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Study the past if you would define the future. 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I wish to be virtuous, and lo! Virtue is at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/is-virtue-a-thing-remote-i-wish-to-be-virtuous-and-lo-virtue-is-at/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“Even as a child I had had at intervals a fondness for observing strange forms in nature, not so much examining them as surrendering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/even-as-a-child-i-had-had-at-intervals-a-fondness-for-observing/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Ahimsa is an attribute of the brave. Cowardice and ahimsa don't go together any more that water and fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/ahimsa-is-an-attribute-of-the-brave-cowardice-and-ahimsa-don-t-go/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“The only things that scared Brandt were water and fire extinguishers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/the-only-things-that-scared-brandt-were-water-and-fire-extinguishers/) [Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/) > [The energy of the stars becomes us. We become the energy of the stars. Stardust and spirit unite and we begin: one with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kucinich/the-energy-of-the-stars-becomes-us-we-become-the-energy-of-the-stars/) [Dennis Kucinich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kucinich/) ## More by Confucius > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. 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The four seasons come and go, and all creatures thrive and grow. 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In today’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-mendis/in-confucian-thought-individuals-practice-moral-virtue-both-by/) [Patrick Mendis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-mendis/) > [If a man withdraws his mind from the love of beauty, and applies it as sincerely to the love of the virtuous; if, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-a-man-withdraws-his-mind-from-the-love-of-beauty-and-applies-it-as/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [There is one God. The Jews and the Christians have no monopoly on God. 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