--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we would induce others to act…" description: "\"If we would induce others to act virtuously, it will prove more effectual to show them their capacities than to expose their weakness--to attract them ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/edwin-hubbel-chapin-1652_capacity_if-we-would-induce-others-to-act-virtuou_2808546.jpg" --- # If we would induce others to act virtuously, it will prove… ![“If we would induce others to act virtuously, it will prove more effectual to show them their capacities than to expose their weakness--to attract them by a fairer ideal than to terrify them by pictures of misery and shame.” quote by Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/edwin-hubbel-chapin-1652_capacity_if-we-would-induce-others-to-act-virtuou_2808546.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/edwin-hubbel-chapin-1652_capacity_if-we-would-induce-others-to-act-virtuou_2808546.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/edwin-hubbel-chapin-1652_capacity_if-we-would-induce-others-to-act-virtuou_2808546.jpg) > “If we would induce others to act virtuously, it will prove more effectual to show them their capacities than to expose their weakness--to attract them by a fairer ideal than to terrify them by pictures of misery and shame.” [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encouraging virtue works better by highlighting people potential than exposing flaws. **In simple terms:** Show strengths, not just weaknesses. Key Takeaway Inspire through positive examples. Themes virtue influence education Mood inspirational thoughtful Type ethical educational When to use this quote - teaching - coaching - community building Key Concepts moral psychology leadership Questions to Reflect On - Can positive role models outweigh fear tactics? - How to balance honesty with encouragement? A Different Perspective People may resist idealized images. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Act Virtuously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act-virtuously-3202499/) [Attract Fairer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attract-fairer-3502780/) [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Effectual Capacities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effectual-capacities-3502781/) [Expose Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expose-weakness-1040404/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Prove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) [Weakness Attract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness-attract-3502779/) ## Related quotes > [“Give a man a gun, and let nature expose his weakness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-black/give-a-man-a-gun-and-let-nature-expose-his-weakness/) [Robert Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-black/) > [Never be afraid to expose a weakness in yourself. Exposing a weakness is the beginning of strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/never-be-afraid-to-expose-a-weakness-in-yourself-exposing-a-weakness/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [Karma moves in two directions. If we act virtuously, the seed we plant will result in happiness. If we act nonvirtuously, suffering results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/karma-moves-in-two-directions-if-we-act-virtuously-the-seed-we-plant-2/) [Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/) > [Karma moves in two directions. If we act virtuously, the seed we plant will result in happiness. If we act non-virtuously, suffering results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/karma-moves-in-two-directions-if-we-act-virtuously-the-seed-we-plant/) [Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/) > [Virtues are dispositions not only to act in particular ways, but also to feel in particular ways. 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There have been many famous ballet stars who did not have the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-bujones/one-can-be-a-great-artist-without-being-a-great-technician-there-have/) [Fernando Bujones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-bujones/) > [We fight to defend our democratic ideals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/we-fight-to-defend-our-democratic-ideals/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [“What you seem so unwilling to accept, even now, is this: that the ideals which supported the old Republic had no correspondence to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/what-you-seem-so-unwilling-to-accept-even-now-is-this-that-the-ideals/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [I am fairly tired--bored beyond endurance--by the world we live in, and its ideals, and am ready to say so, not violently, but kindly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/i-am-fairly-tired-bored-beyond-endurance-by-the-world-we-live-in-and/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) ## More by Edwin Hubbel Chapin > [In the history of man it has been very generally the case that when evils have grown insufferable they have touched the point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/in-the-history-of-man-it-has-been-very-generally-the-case-that-when/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Life, whether in this world or any other, is the sum of our attainment, our experience, our character. The conditions are secondary. In what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/life-whether-in-this-world-or-any-other-is-the-sum-of-our-attainment/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [No man knows the genuineness of his convictions until he has sacrificed something for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/no-man-knows-the-genuineness-of-his-convictions-until-he-has/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Our life is what we make it. 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Its doctrine of human brotherhood would ring strangely between the opposed ranks. The bellowing speech…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/the-gospel-has-but-a-forced-alliance-with-war-its-doctrine-of-human/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [No language can express the power, and beauty, and heroism, and majesty of a mother's love. It shrinks not where man cowers, and grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/no-language-can-express-the-power-and-beauty-and-heroism-and-majesty/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [It is not enjoined upon us to forget, but we are told to forgive, our enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/it-is-not-enjoined-upon-us-to-forget-but-we-are-told-to-forgive-our/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Think for a moment of the great agents and engines of our civilization, and then think what shadowy ideas they all once were. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/think-for-a-moment-of-the-great-agents-and-engines-of-our/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [There is a sweet anguish springing up in our bosoms when a child's face brightens under the shadow of the waiting angel. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/there-is-a-sweet-anguish-springing-up-in-our-bosoms-when-a-child-s/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) [Explore all 219 Edwin Hubbel Chapin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) ## More Capacity quotes > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. Isn't that what everyone in the world wants to do? 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Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [Disappointment contains an appointment for doing much better. 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