--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Virtue is a habit of the mind, consistent…" description: "\"Virtue is a habit of the mind, consistent with nature and moderation and reason.\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_character_virtue-is-a-habit-of-the-mind-consistent_1956431.jpg" --- # Virtue is a habit of the mind, consistent with nature and… ![“Virtue is a habit of the mind, consistent with nature and moderation and reason.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_character_virtue-is-a-habit-of-the-mind-consistent_1956431.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_character_virtue-is-a-habit-of-the-mind-consistent_1956431.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_character_virtue-is-a-habit-of-the-mind-consistent_1956431.jpg) > “Virtue is a habit of the mind, consistent with nature and moderation and reason.” [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 arises from habitual, rational, and moderate actions aligned with nature, guiding ethical behavior. **In simple terms:** Virtue is a rational, moderate habit. Key Takeaway Cultivate consistent, balanced habits. Themes ethics habit reason moderation classical philosophy Mood calm analytical Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - daily routines - education - public service - personal discipline Key Concepts virtue ethics Stoicism practical wisdom Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure your habits remain rational? - What role does nature play in your moral choices? A Different Perspective Habit alone may not guarantee virtue without reflective insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Consistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistent/) [Consistent Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistent-nature-2750290/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Consistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-consistent-3204757/) [Moderation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moderation/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Moderation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-moderation-3204756/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtue Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-habit-430938/) ## Related quotes > [Whatever you hold in your mind on a consistent basis is exactly what you will experience in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/whatever-you-hold-in-your-mind-on-a-consistent-basis-is-exactly-what/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [God is consistent with his nature and declared purposes in Scripture, but he is not limited to our finite understanding of him or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-s-keener/god-is-consistent-with-his-nature-and-declared-purposes-in-scripture/) [Craig S. Keener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-s-keener/) > [“Never allow your mind to wander untamed like a wild animal that exists on the basis of survival of the fittest. Tame your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/never-allow-your-mind-to-wander-untamed-like-a-wild-animal-that/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“It doesn’t matter what you do with your life, as long as you are doing what is consistent with your nature and your aspirations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/it-doesn-t-matter-what-you-do-with-your-life-as-long-as-you-are-doing/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [“Our choices are determined by our nature; we choose what we desire and we desire what is most consistent with our nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/our-choices-are-determined-by-our-nature-we-choose-what-we-desire-and/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“A virtue is a habit that includes all of these things: actions (you take care of your child even when you don't feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-cary/a-virtue-is-a-habit-that-includes-all-of-these-things-actions-you/) [Phillip Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-cary/) > [Trust, which is a virtue, is also a habit, like prayer. It requires exercise. And just as no one can run five miles a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-halpern/trust-which-is-a-virtue-is-also-a-habit-like-prayer-it-requires/) [Sue Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-halpern/) > [...and was disposed too often to idealize as a virtue that habit of mean subservience to wealth and social position which, after more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/and-was-disposed-too-often-to-idealize-as-a-virtue-that-habit-of-mean/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [I've been deeply influenced by Aristotle's idea that virtue is a habit, something you practice and get better at, rather than something that comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-reilly/i-ve-been-deeply-influenced-by-aristotle-s-idea-that-virtue-is-a/) [Tim O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-reilly/) > [Virtue is the habit of acting according to wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/virtue-is-the-habit-of-acting-according-to-wisdom/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [Virtue is the habit of acting according to wisdom. GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ, "Felicity", Leibniz: Political Writings Virtue is harder to be got than knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/virtue-is-the-habit-of-acting-according-to-wisdom-gottfried-wilhelm/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Prejudice renders a man's virtue his habit, and a series of unconnected arts. Though just prejudice, his duty becomes a part of his nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/prejudice-renders-a-man-s-virtue-his-habit-and-a-series-of/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Vice is man's nature: virtue is a habit -- or a mask. . . . The foregoing maxim shows the difference between truth and sarcasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/vice-is-man-s-nature-virtue-is-a-habit-or-a-mask-the-foregoing-maxim/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Vice is man's nature: virtue is a habit--or a mask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/vice-is-man-s-nature-virtue-is-a-habit-or-a-mask/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The Republican Party is either going to return to the party of fiscal responsibility and consistent conservative principles as it was under Ronald Reagan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-tiahrt/the-republican-party-is-either-going-to-return-to-the-party-of-fiscal/) [Todd Tiahrt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-tiahrt/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Virtue is a habit of the mind, consistent with nature and moderation and reason.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/virtue-is-a-habit-of-the-mind-consistent-with-nature-and-moderation/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/virtue-is-a-habit-of-the-mind-consistent-with-nature-and-moderation/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_character_virtue-is-a-habit-of-the-mind-consistent_1956431.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_character_virtue-is-a-habit-of-the-mind-consistent_1956431.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_character_virtue-is-a-habit-of-the-mind-consistent_1956431.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Virtue is a habit of the mind, consistent with nature and moderation and reason.” — 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": "Virtue is a habit of the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/virtue-is-a-habit-of-the-mind-consistent-with-nature-and-moderation/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/virtue-is-a-habit-of-the-mind-consistent-with-nature-and-moderation/#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 } } ] } ```