--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let the foundation of thy affection be…" description: "\"Let the foundation of thy affection be virtue, then make the building as rich as glorious as thou canst; if the foundation be beauty or wealth, and the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/francis-quarles-1740_affection_let-the-foundation-of-thy-affection-be-v_2704165.jpg" --- # Let the foundation of thy affection be virtue, then make… ![“Let the foundation of thy affection be virtue, then make the building as rich as glorious as thou canst; if the foundation be beauty or wealth, and the building virtue, the foundation is too weak for the building, and it will fall: happy is he, the palace of whose affection is founded upon virtue…” quote by Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/francis-quarles-1740_affection_let-the-foundation-of-thy-affection-be-v_2704165.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/francis-quarles-1740_affection_let-the-foundation-of-thy-affection-be-v_2704165.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/francis-quarles-1740_affection_let-the-foundation-of-thy-affection-be-v_2704165.jpg) > “Let the foundation of thy affection be virtue, then make the building as rich as glorious as thou canst; if the foundation be beauty or wealth, and the building virtue, the foundation is too weak for the building, and it will fall: happy is he, the palace of whose affection is founded upon virtue, walled with riches glazed with beauty, and roofed with honor.” [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Virtue should be the base of love; without it, even wealth and beauty cannot sustain a relationship, leading to collapse. **In simple terms:** Love needs virtue as its foundation. Key Takeaway Build relationships on moral character. Themes love virtue relationships trust integrity Mood reflective thoughtful Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - marriage counseling - friendship building - team leadership - family dynamics Key Concepts moral philosophy ethical foundations Questions to Reflect On - What values do you prioritize in love? - How can you cultivate virtue in existing relationships? A Different Perspective If virtue is absent, external attractions may crumble relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) [Affection Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection-virtue-2756392/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Building Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building-virtue-2756393/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [Foundation Thy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation-thy-2756394/) [Founded Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founded-virtue-2756395/) [Glorious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glorious/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Palace Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/palace-affection-2756396/) [Palaces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/palaces/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Riches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riches/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [We owe subjection and obedience to all our kings, whether good or bad, alike, for that has respect unto their office; but as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/we-owe-subjection-and-obedience-to-all-our-kings-whether-good-or-bad/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There were events that stuck in my mind. One, for example, was the case of the missing palace seal at the beginning of winter.’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/there-were-events-that-stuck-in-my-mind-one-for-example-was-the-case/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [The palace we built has become a prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2d/the-palace-we-built-has-become-a-prison/) [2D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/2d/) > [The court is like a palace built of marble; I mean that it is made up of very hard but very polished people. \[Fr.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/the-court-is-like-a-palace-built-of-marble-i-mean-that-it-is-made-up/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [There was living in the palace at this time a brother of the great Germanicus, and consequently an uncle of the late emperor, whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-was-living-in-the-palace-at-this-time-a-brother-of-the-great/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Woman dwell always in the palace of unpalatable truth and never by any chance is there a magic talisman to save them from their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcfee/woman-dwell-always-in-the-palace-of-unpalatable-truth-and-never-by/) [William McFee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcfee/) > [Your Majesty, you just-" Costis stopped. "Just what?" the king prompted wickedly. Nothing would induce Costis to say out loud that the king had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/your-majesty-you-just-costis-stopped-just-what-the-king-prompted/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [There is a proper measure in all things, certain limits beyond which and short of which right is not to be found. Who so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/there-is-a-proper-measure-in-all-things-certain-limits-beyond-which/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Kings live in Palaces, and Pigs in sties, And youth in Expectation. Youth is wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/kings-live-in-palaces-and-pigs-in-sties-and-youth-in-expectation/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [If I had my way, I would build a lethal chamber as big as the Crystal Palace, with a military band playing softly, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/if-i-had-my-way-i-would-build-a-lethal-chamber-as-big-as-the-crystal/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [We do not dwell in the Palace of Truth. But, as was mentioned to me not long since, "There is a time coming when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-heaviside/we-do-not-dwell-in-the-palace-of-truth-but-as-was-mentioned-to-me-not/) [Oliver Heaviside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-heaviside/) > [How much more of the mosque, of prayer and fasting? Better go drunk and begging round the taverns. Khayyam, drink wine, for soon this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/how-much-more-of-the-mosque-of-prayer-and-fasting-better-go-drunk-and/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [Just take one thing out and the whole palace, the whole edifice of the human mind collapses. Take effort out of it and desiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/just-take-one-thing-out-and-the-whole-palace-the-whole-edifice-of-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Poetical taste is the only magician whose wand is not broken. No hand, except its own, can dissolve the fabric of beauty in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/poetical-taste-is-the-only-magician-whose-wand-is-not-broken-no-hand/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [My dreams were always small and puny. All I ever needed was a little house with a little picket fence by the sea. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/my-dreams-were-always-small-and-puny-all-i-ever-needed-was-a-little/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) ## More by Francis Quarles > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Luxury is an enticing pleasure, a bastard mirth, which hath honey in her mouth, gall in her heart, and a sting in her tail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/luxury-is-an-enticing-pleasure-a-bastard-mirth-which-hath-honey-in/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Deliberate long before thou consecrate a friend, and when thy impartial justice concludes him worthy of thy bosom, receive him joyfully, and entertain him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/deliberate-long-before-thou-consecrate-a-friend-and-when-thy/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [What treasures here do Mammon's sons behold! Yet know that all that which glitters is not gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/what-treasures-here-do-mammon-s-sons-behold-yet-know-that-all-that/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Meditation is the life of the soul: Action, the soul of meditation; and honor the reward of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/meditation-is-the-life-of-the-soul-action-the-soul-of-meditation-and/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The world is deceitful; her end is doubtful, her conclusion is horrible, her judge terrible, and her judgment is intolerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-is-deceitful-her-end-is-doubtful-her-conclusion-is-horrible/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [I wish thee as much pleasure in the reading, as I had in the writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/i-wish-thee-as-much-pleasure-in-the-reading-as-i-had-in-the-writing/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The suburbs of folly is vain mirth, and profuseness of laughter is the city of fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-suburbs-of-folly-is-vain-mirth-and-profuseness-of-laughter-is-the/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The fountain of beauty is the heart and every generous thought illustrates the walls of your chamber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-fountain-of-beauty-is-the-heart-and-every-generous-thought/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The strong desires of man's insatiate breast may stand possess'd Of all that earth can give; but earth can give no rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-strong-desires-of-man-s-insatiate-breast-may-stand-possess-d-of/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Knowledge descries; wisdom applies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/knowledge-descries-wisdom-applies/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [In all thy actions think God sees thee; and in all His actions labor to see Him; that will make thee fear Him; this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/in-all-thy-actions-think-god-sees-thee-and-in-all-his-actions-labor/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Rather do what is nothing to the purpose than be idle; that the devil may find thee doing. The bird that sits is easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/rather-do-what-is-nothing-to-the-purpose-than-be-idle-that-the-devil/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Read not books alone, but men, and amongst them chiefly thyself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/read-not-books-alone-but-men-and-amongst-them-chiefly-thyself/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) [Explore all 212 Francis Quarles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## More Affection quotes > [My team and I have reunited two elements that coexist with diffiulty: respect and affection, because when they love you they don't respect you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/my-team-and-i-have-reunited-two-elements-that-coexist-with-diffiulty/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [“It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/it-is-to-build-a-house-with-affection-even-as-if-your-beloved-were-to/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [A lost love. Deny it who will, ridicule it, treat it as mere imagination and sentiment, the thing is and will be; and women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/a-lost-love-deny-it-who-will-ridicule-it-treat-it-as-mere-imagination/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [Affection! Affection is false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/affection-affection-is-false/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [We are a spectacular, splendid manifestation of life. We have language. . . . We have affection. We have genes for usefulness, and usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-a-spectacular-splendid-manifestation-of-life-we-have-language/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [I am persuaded that there is no affection of the human heart more exquisitely pure, than that which is felt by a grateful son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/i-am-persuaded-that-there-is-no-affection-of-the-human-heart-more/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [If you live in a material universe where acquiring things is very important to you, then family is an absolute deterrent to maintaining that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/if-you-live-in-a-material-universe-where-acquiring-things-is-very/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [Our sweetest experiences of affection are meant to be suggestions of that realm which is the home of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/our-sweetest-experiences-of-affection-are-meant-to-be-suggestions-of/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“Georgia O’Keeffe moved to rural New Mexico, from which she would sign her letters to the people she loved, “from the faraway nearby.” It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/georgia-o-keeffe-moved-to-rural-new-mexico-from-which-she-would-sign/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) [Browse all 2,465 Affection quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let the foundation of thy affection be virtue, then make the building as rich as glorious as thou canst; if the foundation be beauty or wealth, and the building virtue, the foundation is too weak for the building, and it will fall: happy is he, the palace of whose affection is founded upon virtue, walled with riches glazed with beauty, and roofed with honor.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francis Quarles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/let-the-foundation-of-thy-affection-be-virtue-then-make-the-building/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affection" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/let-the-foundation-of-thy-affection-be-virtue-then-make-the-building/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/francis-quarles-1740_affection_let-the-foundation-of-thy-affection-be-v_2704165.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/francis-quarles-1740_affection_let-the-foundation-of-thy-affection-be-v_2704165.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/francis-quarles-1740_affection_let-the-foundation-of-thy-affection-be-v_2704165.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let the foundation of thy affection be virtue, then make the building as rich as glorious as thou canst; if…” — Francis Quarles", "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": "Francis Quarles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Let the foundation of thy affection...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/let-the-foundation-of-thy-affection-be-virtue-then-make-the-building/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/let-the-foundation-of-thy-affection-be-virtue-then-make-the-building/#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 } } ] } ```