--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If virtue were its own reward, it would…" description: "\"If virtue were its own reward, it would no longer be a human quality, but supernatural.\" — Luc de Clapiers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/luc-de-clapiers-2035_character_if-virtue-were-its-own-reward-it-would-n_2459598.png" --- # If virtue were its own reward, it would no longer be a… ![“If virtue were its own reward, it would no longer be a human quality, but supernatural.” quote by Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/luc-de-clapiers-2035_character_if-virtue-were-its-own-reward-it-would-n_2459598.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/luc-de-clapiers-2035_character_if-virtue-were-its-own-reward-it-would-n_2459598.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/luc-de-clapiers-2035_character_if-virtue-were-its-own-reward-it-would-n_2459598.png) > “If virtue were its own reward, it would no longer be a human quality, but supernatural.” [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Virtue valued only for its own sake becomes detached from human nature, turning into something otherworldly. **In simple terms:** If virtue only rewards itself, it stops being human. Key Takeaway Recognize virtue as a human practice, not a supernatural ideal. Themes ethics human nature philosophy Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - leadership - education - community service Key Concepts moral philosophy intrinsic value Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to practice virtue for its own sake? - How can we keep virtue grounded in humanity? A Different Perspective Virtue can still be human even when praised, but over‑idealizing may alienate people. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Human qualities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-qualities/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Reward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reward/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Supernatural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supernatural/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [I think a lot of times when people play superheroes, they stick with this, 'I am a superhero,' but the truth is that we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-quinn/i-think-a-lot-of-times-when-people-play-superheroes-they-stick-with/) [Molly Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-quinn/) > [Of one thing we can be sure: our own future is inseparable from the larger community that brought us into being and which sustains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-berry/of-one-thing-we-can-be-sure-our-own-future-is-inseparable-from-the/) [Thomas Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-berry/) > [Integrity is the human quality most necessary to business success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/integrity-is-the-human-quality-most-necessary-to-business-success/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The one human quality that must be developed is self discipline for success. The will power to force yourself to do what you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-one-human-quality-that-must-be-developed-is-self-discipline-for/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [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/) > [Grace is a quality in people that I just enjoy. It's a very human quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-buckley/grace-is-a-quality-in-people-that-i-just-enjoy-it-s-a-very-human/) [Jeff Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-buckley/) > [I think all of us as women have this super-human quality. We create life, we give life, we are the sources of life for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/i-think-all-of-us-as-women-have-this-super-human-quality-we-create/) [Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/) ## More by Luc de Clapiers > [Great men undertake great things because they are great; fools, because they think them easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/great-men-undertake-great-things-because-they-are-great-fools-because/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [You must rouse into people's consciousness their own prudence and strength, if you want to raise their character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/you-must-rouse-into-people-s-consciousness-their-own-prudence-and/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [To achieve great things we must live as though we were never going to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/to-achieve-great-things-we-must-live-as-though-we-were-never-going-to/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [Excessive distrust is not less hurtfJul than its opposite. Most men become useless to him who is unwilling to risk being deceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/excessive-distrust-is-not-less-hurtfjul-than-its-opposite-most-men/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [There are those who are so scrupulously afraid of doing wrong that they seldom venture to do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/there-are-those-who-are-so-scrupulously-afraid-of-doing-wrong-that/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [The most absurd and reckless aspirations have sometimes led to extraordinary success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/the-most-absurd-and-reckless-aspirations-have-sometimes-led-to/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [We are very wrong to think that some fault or other can exclude virtue, or to consider the alliance of good and evil as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/we-are-very-wrong-to-think-that-some-fault-or-other-can-exclude/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [Men are not to be judged by what they do not know, but by what they know, and by the manner in which they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/men-are-not-to-be-judged-by-what-they-do-not-know-but-by-what-they/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [Men dissimulate their dearest, most constant, and most virtuous inclination from weakness and a fear of being condemned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/men-dissimulate-their-dearest-most-constant-and-most-virtuous/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [To withdraw ourselves from the law of the strong, we have found ourselves obliged to submit to justice. 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