---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is your virtue, being men, to try; And…"
description: "\"It is your virtue, being men, to try; And it is ours, by virtue to deny.\" — Michael Drayton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/michael-drayton-28036_being-me_it-is-your-virtue-being-men-to-try-and-i_205652.jpg"
---

#  It is your virtue, being men, to try; And it is ours, by…

![“It is your virtue, being men, to try; And it is ours, by virtue to deny.” quote by Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/michael-drayton-28036_being-me_it-is-your-virtue-being-men-to-try-and-i_205652.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/michael-drayton-28036_being-me_it-is-your-virtue-being-men-to-try-and-i_205652.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/michael-drayton-28036_being-me_it-is-your-virtue-being-men-to-try-and-i_205652.jpg)

> “It is your virtue, being men, to try; And it is ours, by virtue to deny.”

[Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human nature involves both effort and restraint; we must try and also know when to deny.

**In simple terms:** We must try and also know when to deny.

Key Takeaway

Balance ambition with restraint.

Themes

effort restraint human nature

Mood

thoughtful determined

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- career goals
- creative projects
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

willpower self‑control

Questions to Reflect On

- When is denial beneficial?
- What limits should we set on ambition?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on denial can stifle growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-me/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Courtship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtship/) [Deny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deny/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Try Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-virtue-2135623/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtue Deny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-deny-2135622/) [Virtue Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-men-866702/)

## Related quotes

> [“He promised he wouldn’t try and take my virtue in my sleep, but it seemed he had no problem licking it out of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/he-promised-he-wouldn-t-try-and-take-my-virtue-in-my-sleep-but-it/)

[Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/)

> [“Virtue is a system and men do heroic acts as part of the day's work and without self-consciousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-cooley/virtue-is-a-system-and-men-do-heroic-acts-as-part-of-the-day-s-work/)

[Charles H. Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-cooley/)

> [To love their country has been considered as virtue in men, whose love could not be otherwise than blind, because their preference was made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/to-love-their-country-has-been-considered-as-virtue-in-men-whose-love-2/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [“A substantial good drawn from a real evil, is of the same benefit to society as if drawn from a virtue; and where men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/a-substantial-good-drawn-from-a-real-evil-is-of-the-same-benefit-to/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [Humility is a virtue all men preach, none practice, and yet everybody is content to hear. The master thinks it good doctrine for his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/humility-is-a-virtue-all-men-preach-none-practice-and-yet-everybody/)

[John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/)

> [Friendship, in the old heroic sense of that term, no longer exists. It is in reality no longer expected or recognized as a virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/friendship-in-the-old-heroic-sense-of-that-term-no-longer-exists-it/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [But what virtue I do have is in me and of me. Men deny the good that comes from themselves, calling it God. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/but-what-virtue-i-do-have-is-in-me-and-of-me-men-deny-the-good-that/)

[Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/)

> [“In the Age of Perfect Virtue, men lived among the animals and birds as members of one large family. There were no distinctions between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hoff/in-the-age-of-perfect-virtue-men-lived-among-the-animals-and-birds-as-2/)

[Benjamin Hoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hoff/)

> [A man that hath no virtue in himself, ever envieth virtue in others. For men's minds, will either feed upon their own good, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/a-man-that-hath-no-virtue-in-himself-ever-envieth-virtue-in-others/)

[Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/)

> [Virtue between men is a commerce of good actions: he who has no part in this commerce must not be reckoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/virtue-between-men-is-a-commerce-of-good-actions-he-who-has-no-part/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [“Virtue . . . is the same for men and for women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antisthenes/virtue-is-the-same-for-men-and-for-women/)

[Antisthenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antisthenes/)

> [Popularity is a crime from the moment it is sought; it is only a virtue where men have it whether they will or no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-savile/popularity-is-a-crime-from-the-moment-it-is-sought-it-is-only-a/)

[George Savile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-savile/)

> [“So help me, all it takes for the world to crumble to nothing is for women to lose their virtue and men their honor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-johnson/so-help-me-all-it-takes-for-the-world-to-crumble-to-nothing-is-for/)

[Rick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-johnson/)

> [To love their country has been considered as virtue in men, whose love could not be otherwise than blind, because their preference was made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/to-love-their-country-has-been-considered-as-virtue-in-men-whose-love/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [Make them free, and they will quickly become wise and virtous, as men become more so; for the improvement must be mutual, or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/make-them-free-and-they-will-quickly-become-wise-and-virtous-as-men/)

[Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/)

## More by Michael Drayton

> [Better sit still, than rise to meet the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/better-sit-still-than-rise-to-meet-the-devil/)

[Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/)

> [O blessed bounty, giving ail content! The only fautress of all noble arts That lend'st success to every good intent. A grace that rests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/o-blessed-bounty-giving-ail-content-the-only-fautress-of-all-noble/)

[Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/)

> [With much we surfeit; plenty makes us poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/with-much-we-surfeit-plenty-makes-us-poor/)

[Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/)

> [Must, bid the Morn awake! Sad Winter now declines, Each bird doth choose a mate; This day's Saint Valentine's. For that good bishop's sake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/must-bid-the-morn-awake-sad-winter-now-declines-each-bird-doth-choose/)

[Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/)

> [The falcon and the dove sit there together, and the one of them doth prune the other's feather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/the-falcon-and-the-dove-sit-there-together-and-the-one-of-them-doth/)

[Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/)

> [“Since there's no help, come, let us kiss and part, Nay, I have done, you get no more of me, And I am glad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/since-there-s-no-help-come-let-us-kiss-and-part-nay-i-have-done-you/)

[Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/)

> [“Since there is no help let us kiss and part. - Sonnet LXI”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/since-there-is-no-help-let-us-kiss-and-part-sonnet-lxi/)

[Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/)

> [The Falcon and the Dove sit there together, And th 'one of them doth prune the others feather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/the-falcon-and-the-dove-sit-there-together-and-th-one-of-them-doth/)

[Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/)

> [Here when the labouring fish does at the foot arrive, And finds that by his strength but vainly he doth strive; His tail takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/here-when-the-labouring-fish-does-at-the-foot-arrive-and-finds-that/)

[Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/)

> [When Time shall turne those Amber Lockes to Gray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/when-time-shall-turne-those-amber-lockes-to-gray/)

[Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/)

> [WhenTime shall turn those amber locks to grey, My verse again shall gild and make them gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/whentime-shall-turn-those-amber-locks-to-grey-my-verse-again-shall/)

[Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/)

> [The mind is free, whate'er afflict the man, A King's a King, do Fortune what she can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/the-mind-is-free-whate-er-afflict-the-man-a-king-s-a-king-do-fortune/)

[Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/)

> [All transitory titles I detest; a virtuous life I mean to boast alone. Our birth's our sires'; our virtues be our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/all-transitory-titles-i-detest-a-virtuous-life-i-mean-to-boast-alone/)

[Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/)

> [So in all humours sportively I range; My muse is rightly of the English strain, That cannot long one fashion entertain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/so-in-all-humours-sportively-i-range-my-muse-is-rightly-of-the/)

[Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/)

> [When faith is kneeling by his bed of death, And innocence is closing up his eyes, Now if thou would'st, when all have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/when-faith-is-kneeling-by-his-bed-of-death-and-innocence-is-closing/)

[Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/)

[Explore all 20 Michael Drayton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/)

## More Being me quotes

> [Today I will do my best.If I have a good day,i will be pruod of myself.If I have a bad day,I will not dwell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix-mae/today-i-will-do-my-best-if-i-have-a-good-day-i-will-be-pruod-of/)

[Nix Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix-mae/)

> [Most women would not be happy being me. People say, 'But you're alone.' But I don't feel alone. I feel very un-alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/most-women-would-not-be-happy-being-me-people-say-but-you-re-alone/)

[Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/)

> [My dream project is a sports film, because I love writing emotional music and a sports film is one of the few places you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cardoni/my-dream-project-is-a-sports-film-because-i-love-writing-emotional/)

[Jeff Cardoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cardoni/)

> [Idk Just a random picture(:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-sturges/idk-just-a-random-picture/)

[Emily Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-sturges/)

> [“I can overcome any hurdle when I am in my vibrational essence!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-a-anderson/i-can-overcome-any-hurdle-when-i-am-in-my-vibrational-essence/)

[Debbie A. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-a-anderson/)

> [Well-being is possible to the degree to which one has overcome one's narcissism; to the degree to which one is open, responsive, sensitive, awake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/well-being-is-possible-to-the-degree-to-which-one-has-overcome-one-s/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [There has never been a boy painter, nor can there be. The art requires a long apprenticeship, being mechanical, as well as intellectual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-constable/there-has-never-been-a-boy-painter-nor-can-there-be-the-art-requires/)

[John Constable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-constable/)

> [At the start of the second decade of the 21st century, young people all over the world are demonstrating against a variety of issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/at-the-start-of-the-second-decade-of-the-21st-century-young-people/)

[Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/)

> [The State Department is infested with communists. I have here in my hand a list of 205—a list of names that were made known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mccarthy/the-state-department-is-infested-with-communists-i-have-here-in-my/)

[Joseph McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mccarthy/)

> [I think men spend so much time passing for being men. There's a sense among many writers of color that the most invisible figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-think-men-spend-so-much-time-passing-for-being-men-there-s-a-sense/)

[Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/)

> [My feeling is that, and I've been writing about my family over the years, although it might make them feel uncomfortable, people generally like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/my-feeling-is-that-and-i-ve-been-writing-about-my-family-over-the/)

[Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/)

> [I love being me. I know that I was created the image of God. Comfortable with the comforter!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-being-me-i-know-that-i-was-created-the-image-of-god/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Ruth hadn't talked to my sister since before my death, and then it was only to excuse herself in the hallway at school. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/ruth-hadn-t-talked-to-my-sister-since-before-my-death-and-then-it-was/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

> [I just feel like sometimes I'm a force to be dealt with. My talents are sometimes overused and also sometimes underused. It's not easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/i-just-feel-like-sometimes-i-m-a-force-to-be-dealt-with-my-talents/)

[Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/)

> [This is how many messages I get liam... but I ignore them. We both know there are millions of boys/girls in this world but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nylle/this-is-how-many-messages-i-get-liam-but-i-ignore-them-we-both-know/)

[Nylle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nylle/)

[Browse all 348 Being me quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-me/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is your virtue, being men, to try; And it is ours, by virtue to deny.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Drayton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/it-is-your-virtue-being-men-to-try-and-it-is-ours-by-virtue-to-deny/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Being me"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/it-is-your-virtue-being-men-to-try-and-it-is-ours-by-virtue-to-deny/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/michael-drayton-28036_being-me_it-is-your-virtue-being-men-to-try-and-i_205652.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/michael-drayton-28036_being-me_it-is-your-virtue-being-men-to-try-and-i_205652.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/michael-drayton-28036_being-me_it-is-your-virtue-being-men-to-try-and-i_205652.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is your virtue, being men, to try; And it is ours, by virtue to deny.” — Michael Drayton",
                "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": "Michael Drayton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is your virtue, being men,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/it-is-your-virtue-being-men-to-try-and-it-is-ours-by-virtue-to-deny/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/it-is-your-virtue-being-men-to-try-and-it-is-ours-by-virtue-to-deny/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
