---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What men call social virtues, good…"
description: "\"What men call social virtues, good fellowship, is commonly but the virtue of pigs in a litter, which lie close together to keep each other warm.\" — Hen..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/henry-david-thoreau-20_character_what-men-call-social-virtues-good-fellow_149121.jpg"
---

#  What men call social virtues, good fellowship, is commonly…

![“What men call social virtues, good fellowship, is commonly but the virtue of pigs in a litter, which lie close together to keep each other warm.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/henry-david-thoreau-20_character_what-men-call-social-virtues-good-fellow_149121.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/henry-david-thoreau-20_character_what-men-call-social-virtues-good-fellow_149121.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/henry-david-thoreau-20_character_what-men-call-social-virtues-good-fellow_149121.jpg)

> “What men call social virtues, good fellowship, is commonly but the virtue of pigs in a litter, which lie close together to keep each other warm.”

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Social virtues can be superficial, driven by self‑interest rather than genuine moral goodness.

**In simple terms:** Virtues may be self‑serving.

Key Takeaway

Seek deeper moral integrity.

Themes

virtue society self‑interest authenticity morality

Mood

critical reflective

Type

philosophical social

When to use this quote

- community building
- political activism
- personal ethics
- education
- leadership

Key Concepts

philosophy ethics social critique

Questions to Reflect On

- What truly motivates your kindness?
- Can self‑interest and virtue coexist?

A Different Perspective

Idealism may overlook practical benefits of cooperation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Fellowship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellowship/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues/)

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