--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Virtue has its own reward, but has no…" description: "\"Virtue has its own reward, but has no sale at the box office.\" — Mae West" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/mae-west-1200_box-office_virtue-has-its-own-reward-but-has-no-sal_471277.jpg" --- # Virtue has its own reward, but has no sale at the box… ![“Virtue has its own reward, but has no sale at the box office.” quote by Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/mae-west-1200_box-office_virtue-has-its-own-reward-but-has-no-sal_471277.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/mae-west-1200_box-office_virtue-has-its-own-reward-but-has-no-sal_471277.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/mae-west-1200_box-office_virtue-has-its-own-reward-but-has-no-sal_471277.jpg) > “Virtue has its own reward, but has no sale at the box office.” [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Virtue is valuable for its own sake, yet society rarely rewards it publicly or commercially. **In simple terms:** Goodness isn’t profitable. Key Takeaway Practice virtue regardless of fame. Themes ethics recognition societal values Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical cultural. When to use this quote - workplace - public life - personal decisions Key Concepts philosophical cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - Can you act ethically without external rewards? - How does society measure worth? A Different Perspective Virtue may be overlooked in profit-driven contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Reward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reward/) [Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sale/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Virtue has its own reward, but no sale at the box office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/virtue-has-its-own-reward-but-no-sale-at-the-box-office/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [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/) > [Fine dancing, I believe, like virtue, must be its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/fine-dancing-i-believe-like-virtue-must-be-its-own-reward/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Fine dancing, I believe like virtue, must be its own reward. Those who are standing by are usually thinking of something very different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/fine-dancing-i-believe-like-virtue-must-be-its-own-reward-those-who/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Virtue is not an end in itself. Virtue is not its own reward or sacrificial fodder for the reward of evil. Life is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/virtue-is-not-an-end-in-itself-virtue-is-not-its-own-reward-or/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“ “Virtue is its own reward.But then, the same could be said for sin.” —The Dowager Marchioness of Wallingham to the Countess of Berne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisa-braden/virtue-is-its-own-reward-but-then-the-same-could-be-said-for-sin-the/) [Elisa Braden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisa-braden/) > [Virtue is its own reward, and brings with it the truest and highest pleasure; but if we cultivate it only for pleasure's sake, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/virtue-is-its-own-reward-and-brings-with-it-the-truest-and-highest/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [Doubt not but angling will prove to be so pleasant that it will prove to be, like virtue, a reward to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/doubt-not-but-angling-will-prove-to-be-so-pleasant-that-it-will-prove/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) ## More by Mae West > [Reason was nowhere, time was an immovable object nailed high on the wall, except where the world kept shop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/reason-was-nowhere-time-was-an-immovable-object-nailed-high-on-the/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [I've been in 'Who's Who' and I know what's what, but it'll be the first time I ever made the dictionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-ve-been-in-who-s-who-and-i-know-what-s-what-but-it-ll-be-the-first/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Look your best - who said love is blind?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/look-your-best-who-said-love-is-blind/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Don't let a man put anything over on you except an umbrella.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/don-t-let-a-man-put-anything-over-on-you-except-an-umbrella/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [In my long and colorful career, one thing stands out: I have been misunderstood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/in-my-long-and-colorful-career-one-thing-stands-out-i-have-been/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [The finest woman that ever walked the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/the-finest-woman-that-ever-walked-the-streets/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [The best way to hold a man is in your arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/the-best-way-to-hold-a-man-is-in-your-arms/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Live close, visit often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/live-close-visit-often/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [A real farmer. He spent his childhood in the wheat, and his marriage in the hay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/a-real-farmer-he-spent-his-childhood-in-the-wheat-and-his-marriage-in/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Marriage? I ain't got time for a husband or child. All my life I've looked after myself as if I was my own child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/marriage-i-ain-t-got-time-for-a-husband-or-child-all-my-life-i-ve/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [“If I can't a man with a million dollars, I'll a million men with one dollar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/if-i-can-t-a-man-with-a-million-dollars-i-ll-a-million-men-with-one/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Sometimes I don't drink so the next day I can remember having fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/sometimes-i-don-t-drink-so-the-next-day-i-can-remember-having-fun/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Positive thoughts generate positive feelings and attract positive life experiences. You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/positive-thoughts-generate-positive-feelings-and-attract-positive/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [I believe in the single standard -- for men and women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-believe-in-the-single-standard-for-men-and-women/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [“Goodness had nothing to do with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/goodness-had-nothing-to-do-with-it/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) [Explore all 271 Mae West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) ## More Box office quotes > [I don't think that 'Just Mohabbat' or 'Tarzan' were a hindrance. 'Tarzan' didn't do well at the box office but I would say the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vatsal-sheth/i-don-t-think-that-just-mohabbat-or-tarzan-were-a-hindrance-tarzan/) [Vatsal Sheth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vatsal-sheth/) > [When I was young I didn't care about education, just money and box office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/when-i-was-young-i-didn-t-care-about-education-just-money-and-box/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [The box office in an arthouse film is always going to be small. We have to face this and overcome this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-rao/the-box-office-in-an-arthouse-film-is-always-going-to-be-small-we/) [Kiran Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-rao/) > [I believe in my privacy. I always have, and I always will. I don't think that my private life needs to be on display…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kajol/i-believe-in-my-privacy-i-always-have-and-i-always-will-i-don-t-think/) [Kajol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kajol/) > [Film is not just about the art form but also how it fares at the box office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamannaah/film-is-not-just-about-the-art-form-but-also-how-it-fares-at-the-box/) [Tamannaah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamannaah/) > [You know how many movies it took Tom Cruise before he was making 5, 6 million dollars? It probably took a billion dollars in box office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-patric/you-know-how-many-movies-it-took-tom-cruise-before-he-was-making-5-6/) [Jason Patric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-patric/) > [If I or any other black can deliver at the box office, I'll get a lot of work. Too many young actors, regardless of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/if-i-or-any-other-black-can-deliver-at-the-box-office-i-ll-get-a-lot/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [And yes, it is harder to make movies because budgets are getting smaller, and the companies stocks are down. The only good news on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bruckheimer/and-yes-it-is-harder-to-make-movies-because-budgets-are-getting/) [Jerry Bruckheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bruckheimer/) > [I guess I judge my films by how pleased I am with the work I do, so it's kind of on another level. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-weaving/i-guess-i-judge-my-films-by-how-pleased-i-am-with-the-work-i-do-so-it/) [Hugo Weaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-weaving/) > [Women were real box office stars in the '40s, more so than men. People loved to see women's films. I think it was better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/women-were-real-box-office-stars-in-the-40s-more-so-than-men-people/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [For a broad, star-powered picture like 'The Interview,' a big-tent release in 2,000 to 3,000 theaters is the top choice for a movie studio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/for-a-broad-star-powered-picture-like-the-interview-a-big-tent/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [When you have box-office results, Hollywood treats you different. Hollywood stands up. Once you get to the point where Hollywood sees that you create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/when-you-have-box-office-results-hollywood-treats-you-different/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [I would never want to do a content-driven film with a box office life of Rs 20 crore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farah-khan/i-would-never-want-to-do-a-content-driven-film-with-a-box-office-life/) [Farah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farah-khan/) > [I would do 'John Carter' again tomorrow. I'm very proud of 'John Carter.' Box office doesn't validate me as a person, or as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-kitsch/i-would-do-john-carter-again-tomorrow-i-m-very-proud-of-john-carter/) [Taylor Kitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-kitsch/) > [Box office success definitely matters. I will be lying if say it does not matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-penty/box-office-success-definitely-matters-i-will-be-lying-if-say-it-does/) [Diana Penty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-penty/) Browse all 292 Box office quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Virtue has its own reward, but has no sale at the box office.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mae West" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/virtue-has-its-own-reward-but-has-no-sale-at-the-box-office/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Box office" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/virtue-has-its-own-reward-but-has-no-sale-at-the-box-office/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/mae-west-1200_box-office_virtue-has-its-own-reward-but-has-no-sal_471277.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/mae-west-1200_box-office_virtue-has-its-own-reward-but-has-no-sal_471277.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/mae-west-1200_box-office_virtue-has-its-own-reward-but-has-no-sal_471277.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Virtue has its own reward, but has no sale at the box office.” — Mae West", "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": "Mae West", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Virtue has its own reward, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/virtue-has-its-own-reward-but-has-no-sale-at-the-box-office/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/virtue-has-its-own-reward-but-has-no-sale-at-the-box-office/#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 } } ] } ```