Character Quote by Meister Eckhart
““It is not enough for us to perform the works of virtue, exercising obedience, excepting poverty or disgrace or practicing humility or detachment in some other way; rather we should strive ceaselessly until we attain the essence and ground of virtue. And we can tell if we have attained this or not by asking whether we find ourselves inclined to virtue above all else and perform the works of virtue without prior preparation of the will, practicing virtue without the ulterior motive even of a great and good cause, so that the virtuous act in fact happen spontaneously on account of love of virtue and without asking ‘what for?’ Then and only then do we have the perfect possession of virtue.””
About This Quote
Source Treatise: The Book of Divine Knowledge, Meister Eckhart, 1320
True virtue is spontaneous, arising from love of virtue itself, not from forced effort or external motives.
In simple terms: Virtue should flow naturally from love, not from forced effort.
Key Takeaway
Seek inner love of virtue.
Themes
virtue
spontaneity
inner motivation
Mood
contemplative
inspirational
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- meditation
- ethical decision making
- personal growth
- teaching others
Key Concepts
philosophy
ethics
spirituality
Questions to Reflect On
- What inner love drives your ethical actions?
- Can virtue be both disciplined and spontaneous?
A Different Perspective
Spontaneous virtue can be hard to achieve without discipline.
![“[W]e must come into a transformed knowing, an unknowing which comes not from ignorance but from knowledge.” quote by Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6ee/meister-eckhart-1044_change_w-e-must-come-into-a-transformed-knowing_82425.jpg)
