Ancient Quote by John Kleinig
“Loyalty saves us from the self-advantaging compromising of important relations - such as friendship, marital and professional commitments, group memberships, and so on. But as the Aristotelians would put it, its expression requires phronesis - wisdom not to allow it to compromise other important virtues ,there is something to the ancient doctrine of the unity of the virtues. I believe that is true of all virtues, but especially of the executive virtues - such as industriousness, sincerity, conscientiousness, and courage - which may become detached from substantive goods.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Virtue Ethics in Executive Leadership, 2022
Loyalty must be guided by practical wisdom to avoid harming other virtues; it should support, not undermine, broader moral goals.
In simple terms: Loyalty needs wisdom to stay balanced.
Key Takeaway
Apply phronesis when loyalty conflicts with other values.
Themes
loyalty
wisdom
virtue ethics
leadership
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- business decisions
- team management
- personal relationships
- policy making
Key Concepts
phronesis
unity of virtues
executive virtues
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance loyalty with other moral duties?
- When has loyalty conflicted with your values?
A Different Perspective
Loyalty can become blind allegiance if not critically examined.
