--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Virtue, without the graces, is like a…" description: "\"Virtue, without the graces, is like a rich diamond unpolished--it hardly looks better than a common pebble; but when the hand of the master rubs off th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/jane-porter-9947_acknowledge_virtue-without-the-graces-is-like-a-rich_2589918.jpg" --- # Virtue, without the graces, is like a rich diamond… ![“Virtue, without the graces, is like a rich diamond unpolished--it hardly looks better than a common pebble; but when the hand of the master rubs off the roughness, and forms the sides into a thousand brilliant surfaces, it is then that we acknowledge its worth, admire its beauty, and long to wear…” quote by Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/jane-porter-9947_acknowledge_virtue-without-the-graces-is-like-a-rich_2589918.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/jane-porter-9947_acknowledge_virtue-without-the-graces-is-like-a-rich_2589918.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/jane-porter-9947_acknowledge_virtue-without-the-graces-is-like-a-rich_2589918.jpg) > “Virtue, without the graces, is like a rich diamond unpolished--it hardly looks better than a common pebble; but when the hand of the master rubs off the roughness, and forms the sides into a thousand brilliant surfaces, it is then that we acknowledge its worth, admire its beauty, and long to wear it in our bosoms.” [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Virtue needs refinement; without effort it remains ordinary, but mastery reveals brilliance. **In simple terms:** Refine virtue to reveal beauty. Key Takeaway Cultivate and polish virtue. Themes virtue refinement beauty Mood inspirational thoughtful Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - artistic practice Key Concepts ethical development self‑improvement Questions to Reflect On - What virtues are you polishing? - How does effort change perception? A Different Perspective Perfectionism may hinder progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diamond/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Roughness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roughness/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [“We were created with the ability and the inclination to admire beauty. We should, however, do our best not to fall in love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-brackin/we-were-created-with-the-ability-and-the-inclination-to-admire-beauty/) [Ron Brackin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-brackin/) > [“The butterfly knows more about grace, than humans admire about it's beauty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/the-butterfly-knows-more-about-grace-than-humans-admire-about-it-s/) [T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/) > [“One simple thing to do and destroy the spirit of self-sabotage is to admire the beauty hidden in ugly circumstances.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/one-simple-thing-to-do-and-destroy-the-spirit-of-self-sabotage-is-to/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [When works of art are presented like rare butterflies on the walls, they're decontextualized. We admire their beauty, and I have nothing against that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-haacke/when-works-of-art-are-presented-like-rare-butterflies-on-the-walls/) [Hans Haacke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-haacke/) > [Slow down and take the time to admire the beauty of nature around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/slow-down-and-take-the-time-to-admire-the-beauty-of-nature-around-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Look at light and admire its beauty. Close your eyes, and then look again: what you saw is no longer there; and what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/look-at-light-and-admire-its-beauty-close-your-eyes-and-then-look/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [This is some fellow, Who having been prais'd for bluntness, doth affect A saucy roughness and constrains the garb Quite from his nature: he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/this-is-some-fellow-who-having-been-prais-d-for-bluntness-doth-affect/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Mr. Lely, I desire you would use all your skill to paint my picture truly like me, and not flatter me at all; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/mr-lely-i-desire-you-would-use-all-your-skill-to-paint-my-picture/) [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) > [Everything is roughness, except for the circles. 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Very shapes are very,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benoit-mandelbrot/everything-is-roughness-except-for-the-circles-how-many-circles-are/) [Benoit Mandelbrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benoit-mandelbrot/) > [Nobody will deny that there is at least some roughness everywhere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benoit-mandelbrot/nobody-will-deny-that-there-is-at-least-some-roughness-everywhere/) [Benoit Mandelbrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benoit-mandelbrot/) > [“Under the rough and ridiculous circumstances of life in the Rocky Mountains there was something exciting and vital, full of rude poetry: the heartbeat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/under-the-rough-and-ridiculous-circumstances-of-life-in-the-rocky/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“The locust has no king Just noise and hard language They talk me over”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eugene-edwards/the-locust-has-no-king-just-noise-and-hard-language-they-talk-me-over/) David Eugene Edwards > [A child may have to be snatched with roughness away from a fire so that he shall not be burnt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-child-may-have-to-be-snatched-with-roughness-away-from-a-fire-so/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [Even though the third season of 'Necessary Roughness' was only ten episodes, they were an extremely intense bunch of episodes, especially toward the finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callie-thorne/even-though-the-third-season-of-necessary-roughness-was-only-ten/) [Callie Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callie-thorne/) > [Nothing can be more touching than to behold a soft and tender female, who had been all weakness and dependence, and alive to every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/nothing-can-be-more-touching-than-to-behold-a-soft-and-tender-female/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) ## More by Jane Porter > [none are fit judges of greatness but those who are capable of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/none-are-fit-judges-of-greatness-but-those-who-are-capable-of-it/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [It is not designed that the road should be made too smooth for us here upon earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/it-is-not-designed-that-the-road-should-be-made-too-smooth-for-us/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [Yet happiness isn't something you chase, it's something you are. It's something you think, it's something you believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/yet-happiness-isn-t-something-you-chase-it-s-something-you-are-it-s/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [Guilt is a spiritual Rubicon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/guilt-is-a-spiritual-rubicon/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [The mob is a sort of bear; while your ring is through its nose, it will even dance under your cudgel; but should the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/the-mob-is-a-sort-of-bear-while-your-ring-is-through-its-nose-it-will/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [Goodness is equally hateful to the wicked, as vice is to the virtuous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/goodness-is-equally-hateful-to-the-wicked-as-vice-is-to-the-virtuous/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [I never yet heard man or woman much abused that I was not inclined to think the better of them, and to transfer the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/i-never-yet-heard-man-or-woman-much-abused-that-i-was-not-inclined-to/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [Imparting knowledge is only lighting other men's candles at our lamp without depriving ourselves of any flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/imparting-knowledge-is-only-lighting-other-men-s-candles-at-our-lamp/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [Happiness is a sunbeam which may pass through a thousand bosoms without losing a particle of its original ray; nay, when it strikes on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/happiness-is-a-sunbeam-which-may-pass-through-a-thousand-bosoms/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [It has been wisely said, "that well may thy guardian angel suffer thee to lose thy locks, when thou darest wilfully to lay thy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/it-has-been-wisely-said-that-well-may-thy-guardian-angel-suffer-thee/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [“Don’t. Don’t say you’ve changed your mind. You promised me!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/don-t-don-t-say-you-ve-changed-your-mind-you-promised-me/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [“God forgive her, but underneath the smiles and the good job and the great family, she was tired. Desperately tired. Tired to the point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/god-forgive-her-but-underneath-the-smiles-and-the-good-job-and-the/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [How different is the ready hand, tearful eye, and soothing voice, from the ostentatious appearance which is called pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/how-different-is-the-ready-hand-tearful-eye-and-soothing-voice-from/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [The flatterer easily insinuates himself into the closet, while honest merit stands shivering in the hall or antechamber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/the-flatterer-easily-insinuates-himself-into-the-closet-while-honest/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [Where there is any good disposition, confidence begets faithfulness; but distrust, if it do not produce treachery; never fails to destroy every inclination to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/where-there-is-any-good-disposition-confidence-begets-faithfulness/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) [Explore all 69 Jane Porter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) ## More Acknowledge quotes > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [I'm a Christian because Christianity names and addresses sin. It acknowledges the reality that the evil we observe in the world is also present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/i-m-a-christian-because-christianity-names-and-addresses-sin-it/) [Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/) > [The only way to ease our fear and be truly happy is to acknowledge our fear and look deeply at its source. Instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-way-to-ease-our-fear-and-be-truly-happy-is-to-acknowledge/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/on-thanksgiving-day-we-acknowledge-our-dependence/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [You can't go into games with any fear. You can acknowledge a good team but you can't go in worrying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/you-can-t-go-into-games-with-any-fear-you-can-acknowledge-a-good-team/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [Conservative feminism is such an artificial term that doesn't mean much to me. For me conservatism means accepting reality. I acknowledge that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-schroder/conservative-feminism-is-such-an-artificial-term-that-doesn-t-mean/) [Kristina Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristina-schroder/) > [We must acknowledge that bearing and raising children is not some pesky, peripheral activity that we engage in, but the whole point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-maushart/we-must-acknowledge-that-bearing-and-raising-children-is-not-some/) [Susan Maushart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-maushart/) > [When we pray, we must begin by conceiving God in full and vigorous images, but we must go on to acknowledge the inadequacy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-farrer/when-we-pray-we-must-begin-by-conceiving-god-in-full-and-vigorous/) [Austin Farrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-farrer/) > [Acknowledging foolishness is a very powerful and important experience. 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