--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Virtue is like precious odours, more…" description: "\"“Virtue is like precious odours, more fragrant when they are incensed or crushed; for prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best disco..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/francis-bacon-297_character_virtue-is-like-precious-odours-more-frag_3118387.jpg" --- # Virtue is like precious odours, more fragrant when they… ![“Virtue is like precious odours, more fragrant when they are incensed or crushed; for prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.” quote by Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/francis-bacon-297_character_virtue-is-like-precious-odours-more-frag_3118387.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/francis-bacon-297_character_virtue-is-like-precious-odours-more-frag_3118387.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/francis-bacon-297_character_virtue-is-like-precious-odours-more-frag_3118387.jpg) > ““Virtue is like precious odours, more fragrant when they are incensed or crushed; for prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.”” [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Virtue shines brightest under pressure; hardship reveals true character, while prosperity can hide vice. **In simple terms:** Hardship reveals virtue, prosperity can hide it. Key Takeaway Seek growth through challenges. Themes virtue adversity character prosperity Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - personal growth - crisis management Key Concepts ethics philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain virtue in comfort? - What challenges can you embrace to grow? A Different Perspective Adversity may also cause despair, not just reveal virtue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Certainly virtue is like precious odors, most fragrant when they are incensed, or crushed: for prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/certainly-virtue-is-like-precious-odors-most-fragrant-when-they-are/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Virtue is like precious odours,-most fragrant when they are incensed or crushed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/virtue-is-like-precious-odours-most-fragrant-when-they-are-incensed/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Virtue is like a rich stone, best plain set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/virtue-is-like-a-rich-stone-best-plain-set/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Prosperity discovers vice, adversity discovers virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prosperity-discovers-vice-adversity-discovers-virtue/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My purpose is to inspire people of all walks of life to discover the virtue inherent within them and to bring forth that virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shirley/my-purpose-is-to-inspire-people-of-all-walks-of-life-to-discover-the/) [William Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shirley/) > [Virtue, like a dowerless beauty, has more admirers than followers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/virtue-like-a-dowerless-beauty-has-more-admirers-than-followers/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [Virtue is like health: the harmony of the whole man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/virtue-is-like-health-the-harmony-of-the-whole-man/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Beauty without virtue is like a rose without scent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/beauty-without-virtue-is-like-a-rose-without-scent/) Proverb > [There is no sanctuary of virtue like home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-everett/there-is-no-sanctuary-of-virtue-like-home/) [Edward Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-everett/) > [Wisdom and virtue are like two wheels of a cart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wisdom-and-virtue-are-like-two-wheels-of-a-cart/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no sanctuary of virtue like a home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-everett/there-is-no-sanctuary-of-virtue-like-a-home/) [Edward Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-everett/) > [Virtue is like precious odours, most fragrant when it is crushed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baroness-orczy/virtue-is-like-precious-odours-most-fragrant-when-it-is-crushed/) [Baroness Orczy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baroness-orczy/) > [The soul that companies with virtue is like an ever-flowing source. It is a pure, clear, and wholesome draught, sweet, rich and generous of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/the-soul-that-companies-with-virtue-is-like-an-ever-flowing-source-it/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [The virtue you would like to have, assume it is already yours, appropriate it, enter into the part and live the character just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-virtue-you-would-like-to-have-assume-it-is-already-yours/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A soul which is conversant with virtue is like an ever flowing source, for it is pure and tranquil and potable and sweet and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/a-soul-which-is-conversant-with-virtue-is-like-an-ever-flowing-source/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## More by Francis Bacon > [Princes are like heavenly bodies, which cause good or evil times, and which have much veneration, but no rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/princes-are-like-heavenly-bodies-which-cause-good-or-evil-times-and/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The best preservative to keep the mind in health is the faithful admonition of a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-best-preservative-to-keep-the-mind-in-health-is-the-faithful/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Since custom is the principal magistrate of man's life, let men by all means endeavor to obtain good customs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/since-custom-is-the-principal-magistrate-of-man-s-life-let-men-by-all/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Painting today is pure intuition and luck and taking advantage of what happens when you splash the stuff down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/painting-today-is-pure-intuition-and-luck-and-taking-advantage-of/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [I usually accept bribes from both sides so that tainted money can never influence my decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/i-usually-accept-bribes-from-both-sides-so-that-tainted-money-can/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Much bending breaks the bow; much unbending the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/much-bending-breaks-the-bow-much-unbending-the-mind/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [When Christ came into the world, peace was sung; and when He went out of the world, peace was bequeathed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/when-christ-came-into-the-world-peace-was-sung-and-when-he-went-out/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [...neither is it possible to discover the more remote and deeper parts of any science, if you stand but upon the level of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/neither-is-it-possible-to-discover-the-more-remote-and-deeper-parts/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The divisions of science are not like different lines that meet in one angle, but rather like the branches of trees that join in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-divisions-of-science-are-not-like-different-lines-that-meet-in/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The human understanding, when any preposition has been once laid down... forces everything else to add fresh support and confirmation; and although more cogent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-human-understanding-when-any-preposition-has-been-once-laid-down/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [I should have been, I don't know, a con-man, a robber or a prostitute. 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They never forgive the loss of their prerogative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/when-a-man-laughs-at-his-troubles-he-loses-a-great-many-friends-they/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Believing that I was born for the service of mankind, and regarding the care of the commonwealth as a kind of common property which,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/believing-that-i-was-born-for-the-service-of-mankind-and-regarding/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) [Explore all 711 Francis Bacon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) ## 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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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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