--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Virtue and decency are so nearly related…" description: "\"Virtue and decency are so nearly related that it is difficult to separate them from each other but in our imagination.\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_character_virtue-and-decency-are-so-nearly-related_2052569.jpg" --- # Virtue and decency are so nearly related that it is… ![“Virtue and decency are so nearly related that it is difficult to separate them from each other but in our imagination.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_character_virtue-and-decency-are-so-nearly-related_2052569.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_character_virtue-and-decency-are-so-nearly-related_2052569.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_character_virtue-and-decency-are-so-nearly-related_2052569.jpg) > “Virtue and decency are so nearly related that it is difficult to separate them from each other but in our imagination.” [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. Virtue and decency are so intertwined that separating them in thought is difficult, though they may differ in practice. **In simple terms:** Virtue and decency are closely linked, hard to separate mentally. Key Takeaway Recognize their overlap but consider practical distinctions. Themes ethics morality philosophy Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - legal practice - teaching - personal decision‑making - community leadership Key Concepts virtue ethics human nature social norms Questions to Reflect On - Can you think of actions that are virtuous but not decent, or vice versa? - How does context affect moral judgments? A Different Perspective Distinguishing them can be abstract and culturally variable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Decency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decency/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [If you believe, as I do, that the scope and range of presidential authority is great, that puts a lot of weight on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/if-you-believe-as-i-do-that-the-scope-and-range-of-presidential/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [Justice consists in doing no injury to men; decency in giving them no offense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/justice-consists-in-doing-no-injury-to-men-decency-in-giving-them-no/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“A virtuos woman is not moved by big names and flamboyance, but only men of profound wisdom and integrity move her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/a-virtuos-woman-is-not-moved-by-big-names-and-flamboyance-but-only/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“No woman deserves to be treated as little more than your toy. 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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. 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(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. 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