--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fewer possess virtue, than those who wish…" description: "\"Fewer possess virtue, than those who wish us to believe that they possess it.\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_believe_fewer-possess-virtue-than-those-who-wish_3079621.jpg" --- # Fewer possess virtue, than those who wish us to believe… ![“Fewer possess virtue, than those who wish us to believe that they possess it.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_believe_fewer-possess-virtue-than-those-who-wish_3079621.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_believe_fewer-possess-virtue-than-those-who-wish_3079621.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_believe_fewer-possess-virtue-than-those-who-wish_3079621.jpg) > “Fewer possess virtue, than those who wish us to believe that they possess it.” [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. People often claim moral superiority while lacking true virtue; appearances can mask ethical emptiness. **In simple terms:** Virtue is often pretended, not practiced. Key Takeaway Seek genuine virtue, not just reputation. Themes virtue hypocrisy integrity Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - political leadership - education - personal conduct Key Concepts moral philosophy social perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you distinguish true virtue from false displays? - What actions demonstrate authentic moral character? A Different Perspective Societal pressure may force people to feign virtue for acceptance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [It is not enough merely possess virtue, as if it were an art; it should be practiced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/it-is-not-enough-merely-possess-virtue-as-if-it-were-an-art-it-should/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I believe in ghosts and spirits, and I believe that they can possess you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meagan-good/i-believe-in-ghosts-and-spirits-and-i-believe-that-they-can-possess/) [Meagan Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meagan-good/) > [We believe that what we possess we don't ultimately own. God is merely entrusting it to us. And one of the conditions of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/we-believe-that-what-we-possess-we-don-t-ultimately-own-god-is-merely/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) > [Believe in yourself, you possess the inner drive to accomplish all of your desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/believe-in-yourself-you-possess-the-inner-drive-to-accomplish-all-of/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“There is no greater power than the one others do not believe you possess.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/there-is-no-greater-power-than-the-one-others-do-not-believe-you/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [He who possess virtue in abundance may be compared to an infant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-who-possess-virtue-in-abundance-may-be-compared-to-an-infant/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The good citizen need not of necessity possess the virtue which makes a good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-good-citizen-need-not-of-necessity-possess-the-virtue-which-makes/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Only a man of integrity can possess the virtue of honesty, since only the faking of one’s consciousness can permit the faking of existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/only-a-man-of-integrity-can-possess-the-virtue-of-honesty-since-only/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [One who has accumulated virtue will certainly also possess eloquence; but he who has eloquence doe not necessarily possess virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/one-who-has-accumulated-virtue-will-certainly-also-possess-eloquence/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [It is certain that, because the negligent do not struggle against self, they never achieve peace of soul or do so tardily, and never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ignatius/it-is-certain-that-because-the-negligent-do-not-struggle-against-self/) [Saint Ignatius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ignatius/) > [Virtue is uniform, conformable to reason, and of unvarying consistency; nothing can be added to it that can make it more than virtue; nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/virtue-is-uniform-conformable-to-reason-and-of-unvarying-consistency/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pleasure blinds (so to speak) the eyes of the mind, and has no fellowship with virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pleasure-blinds-so-to-speak-the-eyes-of-the-mind-and-has-no/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I would like to see fewer actors modeling, or if they're going to model to the extent that they are modeling, then I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-seymour/i-would-like-to-see-fewer-actors-modeling-or-if-they-re-going-to/) [Stephanie Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-seymour/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) ## 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 Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fewer possess virtue, than those who wish us to believe that they possess it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/fewer-possess-virtue-than-those-who-wish-us-to-believe-that-they/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/fewer-possess-virtue-than-those-who-wish-us-to-believe-that-they/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_believe_fewer-possess-virtue-than-those-who-wish_3079621.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_believe_fewer-possess-virtue-than-those-who-wish_3079621.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_believe_fewer-possess-virtue-than-those-who-wish_3079621.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fewer possess virtue, than those who wish us to believe that they possess it.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero", "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": "Marcus Tullius Cicero", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Fewer possess virtue, than those who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/fewer-possess-virtue-than-those-who-wish-us-to-believe-that-they/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/fewer-possess-virtue-than-those-who-wish-us-to-believe-that-they/#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 } } ] } ```