Fitness Quote by Edith Wharton
““But she could not breathe long on the heights; there had been nothing in her training to develop any continuity of moral strength: what she craved, and really felt herself entitled to, was a situation in which the noblest attitude should also be the easiest. Hitherto her intermittent impulses of resistance had sufficed to maintain her self-respect.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The House of Mirth, 1905
A lack of moral training leaves one craving easy virtue, but true self‑respect requires confronting resistance.
In simple terms: Moral strength needs practice, not shortcuts.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate moral stamina through challenges.
Themes
moral development
self‑respect
effort
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education
- career advancement
- relationship conflicts
Key Concepts
character building
ethical dilemmas
personal integrity
Questions to Reflect On
- What habits build moral continuity?
- How do you face moral resistance?
A Different Perspective
Easy virtue can be hollow without effort.
