--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In order to know virtue, we must acquaint…" description: "\"“In order to know virtue, we must acquaint ourselves with vice. Only then can we know the true measure of a man.”\" — Marquis de Sade" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b7/marquis-de-sade-1964_character_in-order-to-know-virtue-we-must-acquaint_234408.jpg" --- # In order to know virtue, we must acquaint ourselves with… ![“In order to know virtue, we must acquaint ourselves with vice. Only then can we know the true measure of a man.” quote by Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b7/marquis-de-sade-1964_character_in-order-to-know-virtue-we-must-acquaint_234408.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b7/marquis-de-sade-1964_character_in-order-to-know-virtue-we-must-acquaint_234408.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b7/marquis-de-sade-1964_character_in-order-to-know-virtue-we-must-acquaint_234408.jpg) > ““In order to know virtue, we must acquaint ourselves with vice. Only then can we know the true measure of a man.”” [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) ## 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 understood only by contrasting it with vice, revealing a person's true character. **In simple terms:** Know virtue by seeing vice. Key Takeaway Compare good and bad to gauge character. Themes ethics character morality Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - self‑assessment - leadership evaluation - personal growth - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts dualism comparative analysis Questions to Reflect On - How does confronting vice clarify your values? - Can you measure character without a negative reference point? A Different Perspective Virtue may be judged without considering vice in some philosophies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [True measure of a man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-measure-of-a-man/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [In order to know virtue, we must first acquaint ourselves with vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/in-order-to-know-virtue-we-must-first-acquaint-ourselves-with-vice/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [“In order to know virtue, we must first acquaint ourselves with vice. Marquis de Sade”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-a-gambino/in-order-to-know-virtue-we-must-first-acquaint-ourselves-with-vice-2/) S.A Gambino > [The true measure of a man, is not what he does when is being watched, but what he does when he is alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-not-what-he-does-when-is-being-watched/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [How will I be remembered by my children? This is the true measure of a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/how-will-i-be-remembered-by-my-children-this-is-the-true-measure-of-a/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [“The true measure of a man is how he treats you when others are not looking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandra-torre/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-how-he-treats-you-when-others-are-not/) [Alessandra Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandra-torre/) > [The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort and convenience but how he stands at times of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-not-how-he-behaves-in-moments-of-comfort-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good. Ann Landers It's not whether you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-how-he-treats-someone-who-can-do-him/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [“The true measure of a man is not what he dreams, but what he aspires to be; a dream is nothing without action. Whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-norton/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-not-what-he-dreams-but-what-he-aspires/) [Mike Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-norton/) > [If you want to see the true measure of a man, watch how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/if-you-want-to-see-the-true-measure-of-a-man-watch-how-he-treats-his/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [The true measure of a man is what he would do if he knew he would never be caught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-what-he-would-do-if-he-knew-he-would/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-ultimate-measure-of-a-man-is-not-where-he-stands-in-moments-of-3/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The true measure of a man is the degree to which he has managed to subjugate his ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-the-degree-to-which-he-has-managed-to/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort & convenience but how he stands at times of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-not-how-he-behaves-in-moments-of-comfort/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The true measure of a man is not his intelligence or how high he rises in this freak establishment. No, the true measure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-not-his-intelligence-or-how-high-he/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [The true measure of a man is not in his intellect, his brawn, etc. It's in how long he can hold out before he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-not-in-his-intellect-his-brawn-etc-it-s/) Isaiah Harden (Me ## More by Marquis de Sade > [What you call disorder is nothing else than one of the laws of the order you comprehend not and which you have erroneously named…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/what-you-call-disorder-is-nothing-else-than-one-of-the-laws-of-the/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [And if I were a naughty little boy, the idea is to spank me into good behavior?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/and-if-i-were-a-naughty-little-boy-the-idea-is-to-spank-me-into-good/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [There is a kind of pleasure which comes from sacrilege or the profanation of the objects offered us for worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/there-is-a-kind-of-pleasure-which-comes-from-sacrilege-or-the/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [“To enlighten mankind and improve its morals is the only lesson which we offer in this story. In reading it, may the world discover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/to-enlighten-mankind-and-improve-its-morals-is-the-only-lesson-which/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [What we are doing here is only the image of what we would like to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/what-we-are-doing-here-is-only-the-image-of-what-we-would-like-to-do/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [Happiness lies neither in vice nor in virtue; but in the manner we appreciate the one and the other, and the choice we make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/happiness-lies-neither-in-vice-nor-in-virtue-but-in-the-manner-we/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [What does one want when one is engaged in the sexual act? That everything around you give you its utter attention, think only of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/what-does-one-want-when-one-is-engaged-in-the-sexual-act-that/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [ The law which attempts a man's life \[capital punishment\] is impractical, unjust, inadmissible. It has never repressed crime--for a second crime is every day… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/the-law-which-attempts-a-man-s-life-capital-punishment-is-impractical/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [Between understanding and faith immediate connections must subsist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/between-understanding-and-faith-immediate-connections-must-subsist/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [My passions, concentrated on a single point, resemble the rays of a sun assembled by a magnifying glass: they immediately set fire to whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/my-passions-concentrated-on-a-single-point-resemble-the-rays-of-a-sun/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [The idea of God is the sole wrong for which I cannot forgive mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/the-idea-of-god-is-the-sole-wrong-for-which-i-cannot-forgive-mankind/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [Imperious, choleric, irascible, extreme in everything, with a dissolute imagination the like of which has never been seen, atheistic to the point of fanaticism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/imperious-choleric-irascible-extreme-in-everything-with-a-dissolute/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [Lust's passion will be served; it demands, it militates, it tyrannizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/lust-s-passion-will-be-served-it-demands-it-militates-it-tyrannizes/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [Never may an act of possession be exercised upon a free being; the exclusive possession of a woman is no less unjust than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/never-may-an-act-of-possession-be-exercised-upon-a-free-being-the/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [I am about to put foward some major ideas; they will be heard and pondered. If not all of them please, surely a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/i-am-about-to-put-foward-some-major-ideas-they-will-be-heard-and/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) [Explore all 181 Marquis de Sade quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) ## 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. 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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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