Character Quote by Harry Emerson Fosdick
“Consider how impossible nobility of character would be if our goodness were untried innocence instead of victorious virtue.”
About This Quote
Source Sermon: The Power of Character, 1935
True nobility comes from tested goodness, not from untested innocence.
In simple terms: Goodness proven is noble.
Key Takeaway
Seek challenges to prove character.
Themes
character
morality
integrity
growth
Mood
inspirational
serious
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- leadership
- education
- personal development
- adversity
Key Concepts
ethical development
virtue ethics
resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you test your values?
- What does “victorious virtue” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Virtue without trial may be hollow.
![“...under no circumstances would he [Humbert Humbert] have interfered with the innocence of a child, if there was the least risk of a row.” quote by Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0f0/vladimir-nabokov-198_children_under-no-circumstances-would-he-humbert_16228.jpg)
