--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Few are those who wish to be endowed with…" description: "\"Few are those who wish to be endowed with virtue rather than to seem so.\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_character_few-are-those-who-wish-to-be-endowed-wit_2743307.jpg" --- # Few are those who wish to be endowed with virtue rather… ![“Few are those who wish to be endowed with virtue rather than to seem so.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_character_few-are-those-who-wish-to-be-endowed-wit_2743307.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_character_few-are-those-who-wish-to-be-endowed-wit_2743307.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_character_few-are-those-who-wish-to-be-endowed-wit_2743307.jpg) > “Few are those who wish to be endowed with virtue rather than to seem so.” [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True virtue is desired for its own sake, not for appearance. **In simple terms:** Seek genuine virtue. Key Takeaway Pursue real virtue, not pretended. Themes virtue authenticity integrity Mood reflective inspirational Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - leadership - personal development - public service Key Concepts moral philosophy Stoicism Questions to Reflect On - Why do people value appearance over substance? - How can we cultivate authentic virtue? A Different Perspective Virtue can be hard to measure objectively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Endowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endowed/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [For many wish not so much to be, as to seem to be, endowed with real virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/for-many-wish-not-so-much-to-be-as-to-seem-to-be-endowed-with-real/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Written in 1895, Alfred Nobel's will endowed prizes for scientific research in chemistry, physics, and medicine. At that time, these fields were narrowly defined,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-agre/written-in-1895-alfred-nobel-s-will-endowed-prizes-for-scientific/) [Peter Agre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-agre/) > [I am not the first Buddha who came upon Earth, nor shall I be the last. In due time, another Buddha will arise in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddha/i-am-not-the-first-buddha-who-came-upon-earth-nor-shall-i-be-the-last/) [Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddha/) > [“Please, baby, you had to know the Devil would be well endowed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/please-baby-you-had-to-know-the-devil-would-be-well-endowed/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [Brothers are a blessing for one thing. There is no possibility of any young lady getting unreasonably conceited if she be endowed with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/brothers-are-a-blessing-for-one-thing-there-is-no-possibility-of-any/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“...as we are endowed. ...with rhetorics. ...none will deny. ...of innocence. ...towards scribbling. ...of love lines. ...and of lust. ...to what seems like male.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/as-we-are-endowed-with-rhetorics-none-will-deny-of-innocence-towards/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [The French are endowed with bigger limbs; those of the Spaniards are stronger; they have a very slim waist. The French fight with more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/the-french-are-endowed-with-bigger-limbs-those-of-the-spaniards-are/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [ For a brave man deserves a well-endowed girl. \[Ger., Denn ein wackerer Mann verdient ein begutertes Madchen.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/for-a-brave-man-deserves-a-well-endowed-girl-ger-denn-ein-wackerer/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The blessings of the priesthood are available to every righteous man and woman. We may all receive the Holy Ghost, obtain personal revelation, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/the-blessings-of-the-priesthood-are-available-to-every-righteous-man/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [If it were (Is it not) outrageous that society should treat with such rigid precision those of its members who were most poorly endowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/if-it-were-is-it-not-outrageous-that-society-should-treat-with-such/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Because a human being is endowed with empathy, he violates the natural order if he does not reach out to those who need care.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayananda-saraswati/because-a-human-being-is-endowed-with-empathy-he-violates-the-natural/) [Dayananda Saraswati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dayananda-saraswati/) > [“When a man begins to do that which is assigned to him, it becomes as if he is more endowed and favoured than his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogwo-david-emenike/when-a-man-begins-to-do-that-which-is-assigned-to-him-it-becomes-as/) [Ogwo David Emenike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogwo-david-emenike/) > [“There's no difference between a madman and a professor...it should be clear to you in the way they dress, act and think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/there-s-no-difference-between-a-madman-and-a-professor-it-should-be/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Holy freaking moly! Harvard really was well endowed!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/holy-freaking-moly-harvard-really-was-well-endowed/) [N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/) > [“Endowed with a dignity too great for this world to hold, we are in the world but not of it. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lilles/endowed-with-a-dignity-too-great-for-this-world-to-hold-we-are-in-the/) [Anthony Lilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lilles/) ## More by Marcus Tullius Cicero > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/gratitude-is-not-only-the-greatest-of-virtues-but-the-parent-of-all/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. \[Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched-with-the-hands-but/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Grief is not in the nature of things, but in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/grief-is-not-in-the-nature-of-things-but-in-opinion/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-has-planted-in-our-minds-an-insatiable-longing-to-see-the-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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