--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who have virtue always in their…" description: "\"Those who have virtue always in their mouths, and neglect it in practice, are like a harp, which emits a sound pleasing to others, while itself is inse..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/diogenes-4214_character_those-who-have-virtue-always-in-their-mo_343086.png" --- # Those who have virtue always in their mouths, and neglect… ![“Those who have virtue always in their mouths, and neglect it in practice, are like a harp, which emits a sound pleasing to others, while itself is insensible of the music.” quote by Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/diogenes-4214_character_those-who-have-virtue-always-in-their-mo_343086.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/diogenes-4214_character_those-who-have-virtue-always-in-their-mo_343086.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/diogenes-4214_character_those-who-have-virtue-always-in-their-mo_343086.png) > “Those who have virtue always in their mouths, and neglect it in practice, are like a harp, which emits a sound pleasing to others, while itself is insensible of the music.” [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Speaking of virtue without living it is hollow, like a harp that sounds beautiful but feels nothing. **In simple terms:** Talk is cheap without action. Key Takeaway Align words with deeds. Themes virtue integrity authenticity hypocrisy Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - personal development - teaching - public speaking Key Concepts moral philosophy behavioral consistency Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure your actions reflect your values? - What steps reveal hidden hypocrisy in daily life? A Different Perspective People may resist confronting their own hypocrisy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Neglect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglect/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [I did not know whether I would ever speak to her or not or, if I spoke to her, how I could tell her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/i-did-not-know-whether-i-would-ever-speak-to-her-or-not-or-if-i-spoke/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“when the heartstrings, which contentment has silenced, like a harp laid by, yearn to be plucked and sounded again by some hand, however rough,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/when-the-heartstrings-which-contentment-has-silenced-like-a-harp-laid/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Life is like the harp string, if it is strung too tight it won't play, if it is too loose it hangs, the tension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/life-is-like-the-harp-string-if-it-is-strung-too-tight-it-won-t-play/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [What I'd like to do now - well, what I'd like to do now is grow my beard very long, weave it into my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/what-i-d-like-to-do-now-well-what-i-d-like-to-do-now-is-grow-my-beard/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [My body was like a harp and her words and gestures were like fingers running upon the wires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/my-body-was-like-a-harp-and-her-words-and-gestures-were-like-fingers/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [If you wanna play,go play with someone who doesn't have feelings as strong as mine. 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