--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They that are virtuous from principle may…" description: "\"They that are virtuous from principle may receive confidence in every capacity; but they that are so from custom or habit, are capable of trust only in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/norm-macdonald-1825_capable_they-that-are-virtuous-from-principle-ma_946429.png" --- # They that are virtuous from principle may receive… ![“They that are virtuous from principle may receive confidence in every capacity; but they that are so from custom or habit, are capable of trust only in matters of ordinary and settled occurrence.” quote by Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/norm-macdonald-1825_capable_they-that-are-virtuous-from-principle-ma_946429.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/norm-macdonald-1825_capable_they-that-are-virtuous-from-principle-ma_946429.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/norm-macdonald-1825_capable_they-that-are-virtuous-from-principle-ma_946429.png) > “They that are virtuous from principle may receive confidence in every capacity; but they that are so from custom or habit, are capable of trust only in matters of ordinary and settled occurrence.” [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Virtue from principle yields broad trust, whereas virtue from habit limits trust to familiar, routine matters. **In simple terms:** Principled virtue is trusted everywhere; habit‑based virtue only in routine. Key Takeaway Build character based on principles, not just routine. Themes ethics trust principle Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership roles - team projects - personal relationships Key Concepts character development reliability social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you cultivate principle‑based virtue? - When have you trusted someone only because of habit? A Different Perspective Relying solely on habit may hinder growth in novel situations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Customs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customs/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [“If I had been as capable of trust as I am susceptible to fear I might have learned something new or some truth so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/if-i-had-been-as-capable-of-trust-as-i-am-susceptible-to-fear-i-might/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Cannibalism to a certain moderate extent is practised among several of the primitive tribes in the Pacific, but it is upon the bodies of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/cannibalism-to-a-certain-moderate-extent-is-practised-among-several/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [The standard of morals is as variable as morals themselves; of which every nation has a different code, and every custom a different reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-standard-of-morals-is-as-variable-as-morals-themselves-of-which/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [One of the Canadian customs guards got suspicious and said 'Haven't you been coming and going across the border a lot lately?' 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