Guarded Quote by Oliver Goldsmith
“That virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarce worth the sentinel.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Good-Natured Man, 1768
Guarded virtues are less valuable than those freely given; vigilance can diminish worth.
In simple terms: Guarded virtues lose value.
Key Takeaway
Practice openness over excessive caution.
Themes
virtue
guardianship
value
trust
Mood
thoughtful
cautious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- friendships
- leadership
- community building
Key Concepts
ethics
philosophy
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- Is vigilance always protective?
- When does caution become harmful?
A Different Perspective
Excessive guarding may stifle generosity.
![“In your judgment virtue requires no reward, and is to be sought for itself, unaccompanied by external benefits. [Lat., Judice te mercede caret, per seque petenda est Externis virtus incomitata bonis.]” quote by Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cbb/ovid-276_benefits_in-your-judgment-virtue-requires-no-rewa_817061.jpg)
![“[T]here are depths of thousands of miles which are hidden from our inquiry. The only tidings we have from those unfathomable regions are by means of volcanoes, those burning mountains that seem to discharge their materials from the lowest abysses of the earth.” quote by Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b7d/oliver-goldsmith-772_abyss_t-here-are-depths-of-thousands-of-miles_88121.jpg)
![“I'm a girl who has been tamping down her emotions and keeping them tightly guarded her whole life. And that works really well for me. [...] And now I felt like my shell had a dangerous crack in it. Without much more effort on his part, it would split wide open and my enormous river of emotions…” quote by James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/275/james-patterson-171_cracks_i-m-a-girl-who-has-been-tamping-down-her_48205.jpg)
