--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Virtue is not solitary; it is bound to…" description: "\"Virtue is not solitary; it is bound to have neighbors\" — Confucius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/confucius-164_character_virtue-is-not-solitary-it-is-bound-to-ha_2680547.jpg" --- # Virtue is not solitary; it is bound to have neighbors ![“Virtue is not solitary; it is bound to have neighbors” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/confucius-164_character_virtue-is-not-solitary-it-is-bound-to-ha_2680547.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/confucius-164_character_virtue-is-not-solitary-it-is-bound-to-ha_2680547.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/confucius-164_character_virtue-is-not-solitary-it-is-bound-to-ha_2680547.jpg) > “Virtue is not solitary; it is bound to have neighbors” [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 thrives in community; moral excellence needs social support. **In simple terms:** Goodness needs neighbors Key Takeaway Cultivate relationships for virtue. Themes ethics community social responsibility Mood thoughtful didactic Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - building moral societies - supporting ethical peers - teaching virtue in groups Key Concepts confucianism collective morality interdependence Questions to Reflect On - How do you foster virtue around you? - What role does community play in moral growth? A Different Perspective Individualism may limit impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Neighbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbor/) [Neighbors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbors/) [Solitary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitary/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“Virtue is not a solitary, uncomplicated thing.” Good necessitates evil and the two sides of that disk are not always clearly marked. “Virtues may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/virtue-is-not-a-solitary-uncomplicated-thing-good-necessitates-evil/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/virtue-is-not-left-to-stand-alone-he-who-practices-it-will-have/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Virtue is never left to stand alone. He who has it will have neighbors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/virtue-is-never-left-to-stand-alone-he-who-has-it-will-have-neighbors/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Good is no hermit. It has ever neighbors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/good-is-no-hermit-it-has-ever-neighbors/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Seems like every other day there's somebody on the news, somebody gets killed or does something crazy and all the neighbors and everybody says,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-black/seems-like-every-other-day-there-s-somebody-on-the-news-somebody-gets/) [Jack Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-black/) > [People must not choose their neighbors; they must take the neighbors that God sends them. The neighbor is just the person who is next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/people-must-not-choose-their-neighbors-they-must-take-the-neighbors/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [My neighbor use to like me until I put a password on my wifi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-neighbor-use-to-like-me-until-i-put-a-password-on-my-wifi/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Those same people, when they leave the theater, when they look behind the curtains they are curious about their neighbors, they can guess if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/those-same-people-when-they-leave-the-theater-when-they-look-behind/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [Extremes are ever neighbors; 'tis a step from one to the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-sheridan-knowles/extremes-are-ever-neighbors-tis-a-step-from-one-to-the-other/) [James Sheridan Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-sheridan-knowles/) > [For what do we live, but to make sport by subjecting our neighbors to endless discretionary review for minor additions?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/for-what-do-we-live-but-to-make-sport-by-subjecting-our-neighbors-to/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [In our interdependent world, our neighbors are not only on our street, but can be ten thousand miles away on an island in rising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/achim-steiner/in-our-interdependent-world-our-neighbors-are-not-only-on-our-street/) [Achim Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/achim-steiner/) > [The soul, as soon as she comes to know Me, reaches out to love her neighbors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/the-soul-as-soon-as-she-comes-to-know-me-reaches-out-to-love-her/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Ive always loved the power of stories to transport me to another world, to imagine extraordinary possibilities, to experience things I may not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kandyse-mcclure/ive-always-loved-the-power-of-stories-to-transport-me-to-another/) [Kandyse McClure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kandyse-mcclure/) > [I am actually working on The Neighbors sitcom. We are starting from scratch. I am also working on a comedy movie and a vampire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-am-actually-working-on-the-neighbors-sitcom-we-are-starting-from/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [All will concede that in order to have good neighbors, we must also be good neighbors. That applies in every field of human endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/all-will-concede-that-in-order-to-have-good-neighbors-we-must-also-be/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) ## 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. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Better than the one who knows what is right is the one who loves what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/better-than-the-one-who-knows-what-is-right-is-the-one-who-loves-what/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/knowledge-is-merely-brilliance-in-organization-of-ideas-and-not/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I live in a very small house, but my windows look out on a very large world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-live-in-a-very-small-house-but-my-windows-look-out-on-a-very-large/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-rule-a-country-of-a-thousand-chariots-there-must-be-reverent/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-real-fault-is-to-have-faults-and-not-amend-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-know-what-you-know-and-what-you-do-not-know-that-is-true-knowledge/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A picture is poem without words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-picture-is-poem-without-words/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Heaven means to be one with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/heaven-means-to-be-one-with-god/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Does Heaven ever speak? The four seasons come and go, and all creatures thrive and grow. Does Heaven ever speak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/does-heaven-ever-speak-the-four-seasons-come-and-go-and-all-creatures/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To study and at times practice what one has learned, is this not a pleasure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-study-and-at-times-practice-what-one-has-learned-is-this-not-a/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/recompense-injury-with-justice-and-recompense-kindness-with-kindness/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [There is only one thing in life which never changes, and it is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-only-one-thing-in-life-which-never-changes-and-it-is-change/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) [Explore all 1,019 Confucius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Virtue is not solitary; it is bound to have neighbors", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Confucius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/virtue-is-not-solitary-it-is-bound-to-have-neighbors/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/virtue-is-not-solitary-it-is-bound-to-have-neighbors/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/confucius-164_character_virtue-is-not-solitary-it-is-bound-to-ha_2680547.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/confucius-164_character_virtue-is-not-solitary-it-is-bound-to-ha_2680547.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/confucius-164_character_virtue-is-not-solitary-it-is-bound-to-ha_2680547.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Virtue is not solitary; it is bound to have neighbors” — Confucius", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Confucius", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Virtue is not solitary; it is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/virtue-is-not-solitary-it-is-bound-to-have-neighbors/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/virtue-is-not-solitary-it-is-bound-to-have-neighbors/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```