--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Virtue is her own reward." description: "\"Virtue is her own reward.\" — John Dryden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/john-dryden-491_character_virtue-is-her-own-reward-3201420_3201420.jpg" --- # Virtue is her own reward. ![“Virtue is her own reward.” quote by John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/john-dryden-491_character_virtue-is-her-own-reward-3201420_3201420.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/john-dryden-491_character_virtue-is-her-own-reward-3201420_3201420.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/john-dryden-491_character_virtue-is-her-own-reward-3201420_3201420.jpg) > “Virtue is her own reward.” [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Virtue provides its own satisfaction, independent of external rewards. **In simple terms:** Goodness feels rewarding itself. Key Takeaway Seek integrity, not applause. Themes ethics self‑respect inner fulfillment Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - decision making Key Concepts moral philosophy self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - How does personal integrity affect your daily choices? - What rewards do you seek from virtue? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Reward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reward/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Fine dancing, I believe, like virtue, must be its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/fine-dancing-i-believe-like-virtue-must-be-its-own-reward/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Nationalism, like virtue, has its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/nationalism-like-virtue-has-its-own-reward/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Now virtue may not always be its own reward, but in any case it is not usually bought and paid for at market rates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/now-virtue-may-not-always-be-its-own-reward-but-in-any-case-it-is-not/) [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) > [Virtue is its own reward. We only invented concepts like heaven and hell to describe how we feel. We don't feel good doing bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/virtue-is-its-own-reward-we-only-invented-concepts-like-heaven-and/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Love's like virtue, its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/love-s-like-virtue-its-own-reward/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) > [Virtue is indeed its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/virtue-is-indeed-its-own-reward/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) > [We know that the exercise of virtue should be its own reward, and it seems to follow that the enduring of it on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/we-know-that-the-exercise-of-virtue-should-be-its-own-reward-and-it/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Virtue is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/virtue-is-its-own-reward/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Love, like virtue, is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/love-like-virtue-is-its-own-reward/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) > [Virtue has its own reward, but has no sale at the box office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/virtue-has-its-own-reward-but-has-no-sale-at-the-box-office/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Happiness is the reward of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-is-the-reward-of-virtue/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Life is the reward of virtue. And happiness is the goal and reward of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/life-is-the-reward-of-virtue-and-happiness-is-the-goal-and-reward-of/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Fine dancing, I believe like virtue, must be its own reward. Those who are standing by are usually thinking of something very different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/fine-dancing-i-believe-like-virtue-must-be-its-own-reward-those-who/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“ “Virtue is its own reward.But then, the same could be said for sin.” —The Dowager Marchioness of Wallingham to the Countess of Berne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisa-braden/virtue-is-its-own-reward-but-then-the-same-could-be-said-for-sin-the/) [Elisa Braden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisa-braden/) > [Virtue is not an end in itself. Virtue is not its own reward or sacrificial fodder for the reward of evil. Life is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/virtue-is-not-an-end-in-itself-virtue-is-not-its-own-reward-or/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) ## More by John Dryden > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Trust on and think To-morrow will repay; To-morrow's falser than the former day; Lies worse; and while it says, we shall be blest With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/trust-on-and-think-to-morrow-will-repay-to-morrow-s-falser-than-the/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/to-take-up-half-on-trust-and-half-to-try-name-it-not-faith-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Among our crimes oblivion may be set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/among-our-crimes-oblivion-may-be-set/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [And after hearing what our Church can say, If still our reason runs another way, That private reason 'tis more just to curb, Than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/and-after-hearing-what-our-church-can-say-if-still-our-reason-runs/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave deserves the fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/happy-happy-happy-pair-none-but-the-brave-deserves-the-fair/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/a-coward-is-the-kindest-animal-tis-the-most-forgiving-creature-in-a/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [God never made his work for man to mend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/god-never-made-his-work-for-man-to-mend/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/reason-to-rule-mercy-to-forgive-the-first-is-law-the-last-prerogative/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Stiff opinion, always in the wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/stiff-opinion-always-in-the-wrong/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [He with a graceful pride, While his rider every hand survey'd, Sprung loose, and flew into an escapade; Not moving forward, yet with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/he-with-a-graceful-pride-while-his-rider-every-hand-survey-d-sprung/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Men's virtues I have commended as freely as I have taxed their crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/men-s-virtues-i-have-commended-as-freely-as-i-have-taxed-their-crimes/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Virtue without success is a fair picture shown by an ill light; but lucky men are favorites of heaven; all own the chief, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/virtue-without-success-is-a-fair-picture-shown-by-an-ill-light-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Zeal, the blind conductor of the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/zeal-the-blind-conductor-of-the-will/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“Night came, but unattended with repose. Alone she came, no sleep their eyes to close. Alone and black she came; no friendly stars arose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/night-came-but-unattended-with-repose-alone-she-came-no-sleep-their/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) [Explore all 520 John Dryden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## 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. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. 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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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Virtue is her own reward.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Dryden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/virtue-is-her-own-reward/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/virtue-is-her-own-reward/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/john-dryden-491_character_virtue-is-her-own-reward-3201420_3201420.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/john-dryden-491_character_virtue-is-her-own-reward-3201420_3201420.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/john-dryden-491_character_virtue-is-her-own-reward-3201420_3201420.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Virtue is her own reward.” — John Dryden", "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": "John Dryden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Virtue is her own reward.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/virtue-is-her-own-reward/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/virtue-is-her-own-reward/#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 } } ] } ```