Blank Quote by John Milton
“That virtue therefore which is but a youngling in the contemplation of evil, and knows not the utmost that vice promises to her followers, and rejects it, is but a blank virtue, not a pure; her whiteness is but an excremental whiteness.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: Paradise Lost, Book I, 1667
A superficial virtue that only rejects evil without deep understanding is empty and false, merely a superficial purity.
In simple terms: Empty virtue is just a false purity.
Key Takeaway
Seek true moral depth, not superficial rejection.
Themes
morality
virtue
appearance
depth
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- ethical decision making
- spiritual reflection
- education
- leadership
Key Concepts
ethical philosophy
virtue ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- What does true virtue require beyond mere rejection of evil?
- How can we discern genuine moral character?
A Different Perspective
Superficial virtue may still be socially praised, masking its emptiness.
