--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Virtue is not always where it seems to…" description: "\"Virtue is not always where it seems to be. People sometimes acknowledge favors only to maintain their reputations, and to make themselves more impudent..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-d_acknowledge_virtue-is-not-always-where-it-seems-to-b_2738169.jpg" --- # Virtue is not always where it seems to be. People… ![“Virtue is not always where it seems to be. People sometimes acknowledge favors only to maintain their reputations, and to make themselves more impudently ungrateful for favors that they do not wish to acknowledge.” quote by Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-d_acknowledge_virtue-is-not-always-where-it-seems-to-b_2738169.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-d_acknowledge_virtue-is-not-always-where-it-seems-to-b_2738169.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-d_acknowledge_virtue-is-not-always-where-it-seems-to-b_2738169.jpg) > “Virtue is not always where it seems to be. People sometimes acknowledge favors only to maintain their reputations, and to make themselves more impudently ungrateful for favors that they do not wish to acknowledge.” [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People may feign gratitude to protect reputation, revealing hidden ingratitude. **In simple terms:** Fake gratitude hides true feelings. Key Takeaway Beware of superficial praise. Themes reputation gratitude hypocrisy social image Mood skeptical analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - political negotiations - team collaborations - public acknowledgments Key Concepts ego social dynamics authenticity Questions to Reflect On - Why do people pretend gratitude? - How to recognize genuine appreciation? A Different Perspective Motivations can be complex, not always sincere. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acknowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledge/) [Acknowledge Favors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledge-favors-3007715/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Favors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favors/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Reputations Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputations-make-3007716/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Ungrateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ungrateful/) [Ungrateful Favors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ungrateful-favors-3007717/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtue People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-people-864275/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [The virtue of some people consists wholly in condemning the vices in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-virtue-of-some-people-consists-wholly-in-condemning-the-vices-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Those with enlightened virtue please the people, those without enlightened virtue please themselves. Those who please the people grow, those who please themselves perish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-cleary/those-with-enlightened-virtue-please-the-people-those-without/) [Thomas Cleary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-cleary/) > [No free government can stand without virtue in the people, and a lofty spirit of partiotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/no-free-government-can-stand-without-virtue-in-the-people-and-a-lofty/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks-no form of government can render…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/is-there-no-virtue-among-us-if-there-be-not-we-are-in-a-wretched/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“For a discussion of the Founders’ view that a successful republic required a high level of virtue in the people, see Charles Murray, Coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-murray/for-a-discussion-of-the-founders-view-that-a-successful-republic/) [Charles Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-murray/) > [Tolerance is a virtue of people who don't believe in anything anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/tolerance-is-a-virtue-of-people-who-don-t-believe-in-anything-anymore/) [Gilbert K. 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It is not safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-multitude-have-not-a-sufficient-stock-of-reason-and-knowledge-to/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Tolerance is the virtue of people who do not believe in anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/tolerance-is-the-virtue-of-people-who-do-not-believe-in-anything/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Trusting as we did to the virtue of the people, the real people, not the politicians and demagogues, we passed through the most responsible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/trusting-as-we-did-to-the-virtue-of-the-people-the-real-people-not/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [To honor commitment is virtue of people with strong character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-kumar-sinha/to-honor-commitment-is-virtue-of-people-with-strong-character/) [Anil Kumar Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-kumar-sinha/) > [“But because this man listens and that man scoffs, and most are enamored of the blandishments of vice rather than the wholesome severity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-schaff/but-because-this-man-listens-and-that-man-scoffs-and-most-are/) [Philip Schaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-schaff/) > [Repression is not the way to virtue. When people restrain themselves out of fear, their lives are by necessity diminished. Only through freely chosen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/repression-is-not-the-way-to-virtue-when-people-restrain-themselves/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [It is certainly true that a popular government cannot flourish without virtue in the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/it-is-certainly-true-that-a-popular-government-cannot-flourish/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) ## More by Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable > [There are petty-minded people who cannot endure to be reminded of their ignorance because, since they are usually quite blind to all things, quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/there-are-petty-minded-people-who-cannot-endure-to-be-reminded-of/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [There is no one who cannot derive great help and great benefit from learning; but there are also only a few people who do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/there-is-no-one-who-cannot-derive-great-help-and-great-benefit-from/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [Sometimes we praise the way things used to be in order to blame the present, and we esteem what is no longer in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/sometimes-we-praise-the-way-things-used-to-be-in-order-to-blame-the/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [Even the best-natured people, if uninstructed, are always blind and uncertain. 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The argument irritates him, however…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/when-an-opinionated-person-starts-to-challenge-something-his-mind/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [It is a very common failing, never to be pleased with our fortune nor displeased with our character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/it-is-a-very-common-failing-never-to-be-pleased-with-our-fortune-nor/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [Honest and sincere acts mislead the wicked and cause them to lose their path to their own goals, because mean-spirited people usually believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/honest-and-sincere-acts-mislead-the-wicked-and-cause-them-to-lose/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [Good results are sometimes owing to a failure of judgment, because the faculty of judgment often hinders us from undertaking many things which would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/good-results-are-sometimes-owing-to-a-failure-of-judgment-because-the/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [One cannot always bestow all manner of things upon everybody. To refuse a request for just cause is as praiseworthy as to grant a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/one-cannot-always-bestow-all-manner-of-things-upon-everybody-to/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [The shame that comes to us as we see ourselves praised when we are unworthy of it often gives us the occasion to accomplish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/the-shame-that-comes-to-us-as-we-see-ourselves-praised-when-we-are/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [Ignorance makes for weakness and fear; knowledge gives strength and confidence. Nothing surprises an intellect that knows all things with a sense of discrimination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/ignorance-makes-for-weakness-and-fear-knowledge-gives-strength-and/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [There are people so blind and self-absorbed in all matters that they always believe that, whatever they desire or think, they can impose their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/there-are-people-so-blind-and-self-absorbed-in-all-matters-that-they/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [Instead of taking care to acquaint ourselves with others, we only think of making ourselves known to them. 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The possession of many goods does not bring the repose of not desiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/wealth-does-not-teach-us-to-transcend-the-desire-for-wealth-the/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [There is little advantage in pleasing ourselves when we please no one else, for our great self-love is often chastised by the scorn of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/there-is-little-advantage-in-pleasing-ourselves-when-we-please-no-one/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) [Explore all 75 Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) ## More Acknowledge quotes > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) [Frank B. Wilderson III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-b-wilderson-iii/) > [I'm a Christian because Christianity names and addresses sin. It acknowledges the reality that the evil we observe in the world is also present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/i-m-a-christian-because-christianity-names-and-addresses-sin-it/) [Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/) > [The only way to ease our fear and be truly happy is to acknowledge our fear and look deeply at its source. 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Self-assessment and attempts at self-improvement are essential aspects of "the good life."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-burton/no-one-seriously-doubts-socrates-maxim-the-unexamined-life-isn-t/) [Robert A. Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-burton/) > [As objects of contemplation, images of the atrocious can answer to several different needs. To steel oneself against weakness. To make oneself more numb.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/as-objects-of-contemplation-images-of-the-atrocious-can-answer-to/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [It is in the measure that special methods acknowledge their common core in transcendental method, that norms common to all the sciences will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lonergan/it-is-in-the-measure-that-special-methods-acknowledge-their-common/) [Bernard Lonergan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lonergan/) > [I can hear of the brilliant accomplishments of any of my sex with pleasure and rejoice in that liberality of sentiment which acknowledges them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/i-can-hear-of-the-brilliant-accomplishments-of-any-of-my-sex-with/) [Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/) [Browse all 1,475 Acknowledge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledge/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Virtue is not always where it seems to be. 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