---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: True fortitude is seen in great exploits…"
description: "\"True fortitude is seen in great exploits That justice warrants, and that wisdom guides; And all else is tow'ring phrenzy and distraction.\" — Joseph Add..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/joseph-addison-377_courage_true-fortitude-is-seen-in-great-exploits_1890530.png"
---

#  True fortitude is seen in great exploits That justice…

![“True fortitude is seen in great exploits That justice warrants, and that wisdom guides; And all else is tow'ring phrenzy and distraction.” quote by Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/joseph-addison-377_courage_true-fortitude-is-seen-in-great-exploits_1890530.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/joseph-addison-377_courage_true-fortitude-is-seen-in-great-exploits_1890530.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/joseph-addison-377_courage_true-fortitude-is-seen-in-great-exploits_1890530.png)

> “True fortitude is seen in great exploits That justice warrants, and that wisdom guides; And all else is tow'ring phrenzy and distraction.”

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

True courage appears when justice and wisdom drive great deeds, while other pursuits become frantic distractions.

**In simple terms:** Courage needs justice and wisdom; other things are distractions.

Key Takeaway

Align actions with justice and wisdom.

Themes

courage justice wisdom distraction

Mood

reflective serious

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- leadership
- public service
- personal growth
- overcoming chaos

Key Concepts

Moral philosophy ethics human nature

Questions to Reflect On

- What distractions divert you from just actions?
- How can wisdom temper courage?

A Different Perspective

Even justified actions can become hollow without humility.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Distraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distraction/) [Fortitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortitude/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Resilience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resilience/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/)

## Related quotes

> [It is true fortitude to stand firm against All shocks of fate, when cowards faint and die In fear to suffer more calamity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-massinger/it-is-true-fortitude-to-stand-firm-against-all-shocks-of-fate-when/)

[Philip Massinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-massinger/)

> [It's funny how, even long after you've accepted the grief of losing someone you love and truly have gotten on with your life, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-higgins-clark/it-s-funny-how-even-long-after-you-ve-accepted-the-grief-of-losing/)

[Mary Higgins Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-higgins-clark/)

> [England, a happy land we know, Where follies naturally grow, Where without culture they arise, And tow'r above the common size.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-churchill/england-a-happy-land-we-know-where-follies-naturally-grow-where/)

[Charles Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-churchill/)

> [Yesterday I parked my car in a tow-away zone...when I came back the entire area was missing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/yesterday-i-parked-my-car-in-a-tow-away-zone-when-i-came-back-the/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [I've never been big on cars. When I first got to Hollywood, I bought a used car from Avis. I drove that until I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-vaughn/i-ve-never-been-big-on-cars-when-i-first-got-to-hollywood-i-bought-a/)

[Vince Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-vaughn/)

> [They never played games with each other, they never had tow worry where they stood, because if either of them had a moment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/they-never-played-games-with-each-other-they-never-had-tow-worry/)

[David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/)

> [It was not easy victory in the America Cup. Our boys spent years experimenting with different designs for their boat before they came up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/it-was-not-easy-victory-in-the-america-cup-our-boys-spent-years/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [It takes 3 girls to tow always; two to hold the rope, and the other one runs round and round, and giggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/it-takes-3-girls-to-tow-always-two-to-hold-the-rope-and-the-other-one/)

[Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/)

> [So,” Royce said, “you want us to escape from this prison, kidnap the king, cross the countryside with him in tow while dodging soldiers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/so-royce-said-you-want-us-to-escape-from-this-prison-kidnap-the-king/)

[Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/)

> [If we become tow people-the suburban affluent and the urban poor, each filled with mistrust and fear of the other-then we shall effectively cripple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/if-we-become-tow-people-the-suburban-affluent-and-the-urban-poor-each/)

[Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/)

> [I love being outdoors and think a tan is very sexy. I'll lie out on white towels strewn with pillows. I don't like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-anderson/i-love-being-outdoors-and-think-a-tan-is-very-sexy-i-ll-lie-out-on/)

[Pamela Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-anderson/)

> [I'm driving my old car until I'm on a first name basis with the low tow truck drivers!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-singletary/i-m-driving-my-old-car-until-i-m-on-a-first-name-basis-with-the-low/)

[Michelle Singletary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-singletary/)

> [The picture of Mother Teresa that I remember from my childhood is of a short, sari-wearing woman scurrying down a red gravel path between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bharati-mukherjee/the-picture-of-mother-teresa-that-i-remember-from-my-childhood-is-of/)

[Bharati Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bharati-mukherjee/)

> [The tow pillars of democratic government are the primacy of the law and the budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-tow-pillars-of-democratic-government-are-the-primacy-of-the-law/)

[Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

> ['Botanicula' tells the story of a group of twigs, nuts, and leaves trying to escape with the life essence of a tree in tow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/botanicula-tells-the-story-of-a-group-of-twigs-nuts-and-leaves-trying/)

[Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/)

## More by Joseph Addison

> [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [There is nothing touches our imagination so much as a beautiful woman in a plain dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-nothing-touches-our-imagination-so-much-as-a-beautiful-woman/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [We are always doing something for posterity, but I would fain see posterity do something for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/we-are-always-doing-something-for-posterity-but-i-would-fain-see/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [Female Virtues are of a Domestick turn. The Family is the proper Province for Private Women to Shine in. If they must be showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/female-virtues-are-of-a-domestick-turn-the-family-is-the-proper/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [As addictions go, reading is among the cleanest, easiest to feed, happiest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/as-addictions-go-reading-is-among-the-cleanest-easiest-to-feed/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [There is no society or conversation to be kept up in the world without good-nature, or something which must bear its appearance and supply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-no-society-or-conversation-to-be-kept-up-in-the-world/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [When love once pleads admission to our hearts, In spite of all the virtue we can boast, The woman that deliberates is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/when-love-once-pleads-admission-to-our-hearts-in-spite-of-all-the/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [Many actions calculated to procure fame are not conducive to ultimate happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/many-actions-calculated-to-procure-fame-are-not-conducive-to-ultimate/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [T is liberty crowns Britannia's Isle, And makes her barren rocks and her bleak mountains smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/t-is-liberty-crowns-britannia-s-isle-and-makes-her-barren-rocks-and/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/reading-is-a-basic-tool-in-the-living-of-a-good-life/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [The moral perfections of the Deity, the more attentively, we consider, the more perfectly still shall we know them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/the-moral-perfections-of-the-deity-the-more-attentively-we-consider/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [The utmost we can hope for in this world is contentment; if we aim at anything higher, we shall meet with nothing but grief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/the-utmost-we-can-hope-for-in-this-world-is-contentment-if-we-aim-at/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [Courage that grows from constitution often forsakes a man when he has occasion for it; courage which arises from a sense of duty acts;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/courage-that-grows-from-constitution-often-forsakes-a-man-when-he-has/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [The most skillful flattery is to let a person talk on, and be a listener.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/the-most-skillful-flattery-is-to-let-a-person-talk-on-and-be-a/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

[Explore all 620 Joseph Addison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

## More Courage quotes

> [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/)

[Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/)

> [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

> [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/)

[Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/)

> [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/)

James T. Conway

> [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/)

> [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/)

[Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/)

> [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/)

[Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/)

> [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/)

[Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/)

> [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/)

[Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/)

> [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [“There is nothing purer, braver, or more beautiful than the try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-armstrong/there-is-nothing-purer-braver-or-more-beautiful-than-the-try/)

Kristen Armstrong

> [“One theory on cannibals, of course, is that they eat parts of their slain enemies to benefit from that person's greatest assets - their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/one-theory-on-cannibals-of-course-is-that-they-eat-parts-of-their/)

[Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/)

> [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/)

[Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/)

> [I have pictures with Morimoto where I'm all embarrassed and he's so serious, it took me 30 minutes to get up the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-have-pictures-with-morimoto-where-i-m-all-embarrassed-and-he-s-so/)

[Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/)

[Browse all 14,559 Courage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "True fortitude is seen in great exploits That justice warrants, and that wisdom guides; And all else is tow'ring phrenzy and distraction.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Joseph Addison"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/true-fortitude-is-seen-in-great-exploits-that-justice-warrants-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Courage"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/true-fortitude-is-seen-in-great-exploits-that-justice-warrants-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/joseph-addison-377_courage_true-fortitude-is-seen-in-great-exploits_1890530.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/joseph-addison-377_courage_true-fortitude-is-seen-in-great-exploits_1890530.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/joseph-addison-377_courage_true-fortitude-is-seen-in-great-exploits_1890530.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“True fortitude is seen in great exploits That justice warrants, and that wisdom guides; And all else is…” — Joseph Addison",
                "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": "Joseph Addison",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "True fortitude is seen in great...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/true-fortitude-is-seen-in-great-exploits-that-justice-warrants-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/true-fortitude-is-seen-in-great-exploits-that-justice-warrants-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
