--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'Tis virtue, and not birth that makes us…" description: "\"'Tis virtue, and not birth that makes us noble: Great actions speak great minds, and such should govern.\" — John Fletcher" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/john-fletcher-16387_action_tis-virtue-and-not-birth-that-makes-us-n_2269512.jpg" --- # 'Tis virtue, and not birth that makes us noble: Great… ![“'Tis virtue, and not birth that makes us noble: Great actions speak great minds, and such should govern.” quote by John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/john-fletcher-16387_action_tis-virtue-and-not-birth-that-makes-us-n_2269512.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/john-fletcher-16387_action_tis-virtue-and-not-birth-that-makes-us-n_2269512.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/john-fletcher-16387_action_tis-virtue-and-not-birth-that-makes-us-n_2269512.jpg) > “'Tis virtue, and not birth that makes us noble: Great actions speak great minds, and such should govern.” [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True nobility stems from moral virtue, not lineage; great deeds reflect wise minds and should guide governance. **In simple terms:** Virtue, not birth, makes one noble. Key Takeaway Value character over pedigree. Themes virtue leadership meritocracy governance Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical political When to use this quote - politics - education - family\_business - community\_service Key Concepts moral\_philosophy ethical\_leadership social\_hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies reward virtue? - What limits exist for merit‑based rule? A Different Perspective Idealism may overlook practical constraints of power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Actions speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions-speak/) [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Great Actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-actions-258342/) [Great minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-minds/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Minds Govern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minds-govern-3522328/) [Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Tis Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tis-virtue-1718531/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [“Great Actions speak Great Minds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/great-actions-speak-great-minds/) [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) > [Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/great-thoughts-speak-only-to-the-thoughtful-mind-but-great-actions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is the work of great men and there is the work of little men. Therefore it is said, 'Some labor with their minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/there-is-the-work-of-great-men-and-there-is-the-work-of-little-men/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [Count all th' advantage prosperous Vice attains, 'Tis but what Virtue flies from and disdains: And grant the bad what happiness they would, One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/count-all-th-advantage-prosperous-vice-attains-tis-but-what-virtue/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [“Well may your heart believe the truths Well may your heart believe the truths I tell; 'Tis virtue makes the bliss, where'er we dwell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/well-may-your-heart-believe-the-truths-well-may-your-heart-believe/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [Press not a falling man too far; 'tis virtue: His faults lie open to the laws; let them, Not you, correct him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/press-not-a-falling-man-too-far-tis-virtue-his-faults-lie-open-to-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Well may your heart believe the truths I tell; 'Tis virtue makes the bliss, where'er we dwell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/well-may-your-heart-believe-the-truths-i-tell-tis-virtue-makes-the/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [The hearts of men are their books; events are their tutors; great actions are their eloquence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/the-hearts-of-men-are-their-books-events-are-their-tutors-great/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [To praise great actions is in some sense to share them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/to-praise-great-actions-is-in-some-sense-to-share-them/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The majority of men are more capable of great actions than of good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/the-majority-of-men-are-more-capable-of-great-actions-than-of-good/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Ambition and love are the wings of great actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/ambition-and-love-are-the-wings-of-great-actions/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I now require this of all pictures, that they domesticate me, not that they dazzle me. Pictures must not be too picturesque. Nothing astonishes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-now-require-this-of-all-pictures-that-they-domesticate-me-not-that/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Many great actions are committed in small struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/many-great-actions-are-committed-in-small-struggles/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [To praise great actions with sincerity may be said to be taking part in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/to-praise-great-actions-with-sincerity-may-be-said-to-be-taking-part/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Although men flatter themselves with their great actions, they are not so often the result of a great design as of chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-men-flatter-themselves-with-their-great-actions-they-are-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by John Fletcher > [Drink today, and drown all sorrow; you shall perhaps not do tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/drink-today-and-drown-all-sorrow-you-shall-perhaps-not-do-tomorrow/) [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) > [Care-charming Sleep, thou easer of all woes, brother to Death, sweetly thyself dispose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/care-charming-sleep-thou-easer-of-all-woes-brother-to-death-sweetly/) [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) > [Hence, all you vain delights, As short as are the nights Wherein you spend your folly! There's naught in this life sweet But only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/hence-all-you-vain-delights-as-short-as-are-the-nights-wherein-you/) [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) > [Ask how to live? Write, write, write, anything; The world's a fine believing world, write news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/ask-how-to-live-write-write-write-anything-the-world-s-a-fine/) [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) > [Then, everlasting Love , restrain thy will; 'Tis god -like to have power, but not to kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/then-everlasting-love-restrain-thy-will-tis-god-like-to-have-power/) [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) > [Love's tongue is in his eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/love-s-tongue-is-in-his-eyes/) [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) > [Corruption is a tree, whose branches are Of an immeasurable length: they spread Ev'rywhere; and the dew that drops from thence Hath infected some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/corruption-is-a-tree-whose-branches-are-of-an-immeasurable-length/) [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) > [Charity and treating begin at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/charity-and-treating-begin-at-home/) [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) > [Speak boldly and speak truly, shame the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/speak-boldly-and-speak-truly-shame-the-devil/) [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) > [Drink to-day, and drown all sorrow; You shall perhaps not do 't to-morrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/drink-to-day-and-drown-all-sorrow-you-shall-perhaps-not-do-t-to-morrow/) [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) > [The coward's weapon, poison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/the-coward-s-weapon-poison/) [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) > [The greatest attribute of heaven is mercy; And 'tis the crown of justice, and the glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/the-greatest-attribute-of-heaven-is-mercy-and-tis-the-crown-of/) [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) > [Man is his own star, and the soul that can, render an honest and a perfect man, Commands all light, all influence, all fate:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/man-is-his-own-star-and-the-soul-that-can-render-an-honest-and-a/) [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) > [“Welcome folded arms, fixed eyes, a sigh that piercing mortifies; A look that's fastened to the ground, a tongue chained up without a sound.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/welcome-folded-arms-fixed-eyes-a-sigh-that-piercing-mortifies-a-look/) [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) > [O great corrector of enormous times, Shaker of o'er-rank states, thou grand decider Of dusty and old titles, that healest with blood The earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/o-great-corrector-of-enormous-times-shaker-of-o-er-rank-states-thou/) [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) [Explore all 40 John Fletcher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "'Tis virtue, and not birth that makes us noble: Great actions speak great minds, and such should govern.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Fletcher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/tis-virtue-and-not-birth-that-makes-us-noble-great-actions-speak/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/tis-virtue-and-not-birth-that-makes-us-noble-great-actions-speak/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/john-fletcher-16387_action_tis-virtue-and-not-birth-that-makes-us-n_2269512.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/john-fletcher-16387_action_tis-virtue-and-not-birth-that-makes-us-n_2269512.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/john-fletcher-16387_action_tis-virtue-and-not-birth-that-makes-us-n_2269512.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“'Tis virtue, and not birth that makes us noble: Great actions speak great minds, and such should govern.” — John Fletcher", "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 Fletcher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "'Tis virtue, and not birth that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/tis-virtue-and-not-birth-that-makes-us-noble-great-actions-speak/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/tis-virtue-and-not-birth-that-makes-us-noble-great-actions-speak/#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 } } ] } ```