---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The true measure of a virtuous life is…"
description: "\"“The true measure of a virtuous life is how we redeem time by deeds and the exemplification and personification of principles that bring heaven to eart..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/oliver-harper-32871_integrity_the-true-measure-of-a-virtuous-life-is-h_1210740.jpg"
---

#  The true measure of a virtuous life is how we redeem time…

![“The true measure of a virtuous life is how we redeem time by deeds and the exemplification and personification of principles that bring heaven to earth.” quote by Oliver Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/oliver-harper-32871_integrity_the-true-measure-of-a-virtuous-life-is-h_1210740.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/oliver-harper-32871_integrity_the-true-measure-of-a-virtuous-life-is-h_1210740.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/oliver-harper-32871_integrity_the-true-measure-of-a-virtuous-life-is-h_1210740.jpg)

> ““The true measure of a virtuous life is how we redeem time by deeds and the exemplification and personification of principles that bring heaven to earth.””

[Oliver Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/)

## About This Quote

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

A virtuous life is measured by how we use time to act on principles that bring lofty ideals into reality.

**In simple terms:** Living well means using time for meaningful deeds.

Key Takeaway

Align daily actions with core values.

Themes

purpose time virtue

Mood

inspirational reflective

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- career planning
- volunteering
- personal development
- goal setting

Key Concepts

ethical living principle‑driven action legacy building

Questions to Reflect On

- What principles guide your daily choices?
- How can you turn abstract ideals into concrete actions?

A Different Perspective

Idealistic view may overlook practical constraints and failures.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Virtuous life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtuous-life/)

## Related quotes

> [“By trying to export myself into a place that didn't fully exist I asked works of art to bear my expectation that they could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lethem/by-trying-to-export-myself-into-a-place-that-didn-t-fully-exist-i/)

[Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/)

> [“I’ve led a sheltered, virtuous life,” she said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-ve-led-a-sheltered-virtuous-life-she-said/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

> [To one who has led a virtuous life, to sin is the easiest thing in the world. No experience of unpleasant consequences grits that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/to-one-who-has-led-a-virtuous-life-to-sin-is-the-easiest-thing-in-the/)

[Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/)

> [One should not say that it is impossible to reach a virtuous life; but one should say that it is not easy. Nor do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-the-great/one-should-not-say-that-it-is-impossible-to-reach-a-virtuous-life-but/)

[Anthony the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-the-great/)

> [It is obvious that different individuals require different things to live good, healthy, and virtuous lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-g-palmer/it-is-obvious-that-different-individuals-require-different-things-to/)

[Tom G. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-g-palmer/)

> [The chamber where the good man meets his fate Is privileg'd beyond the common walk Of virtuous life, quite in the verge of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-chamber-where-the-good-man-meets-his-fate-is-privileg-d-beyond/)

[Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/)

> [To a modern mind, it is difficult to feel enthusiastic about a virtuous life if nothing is going to be achieved by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/to-a-modern-mind-it-is-difficult-to-feel-enthusiastic-about-a/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [Conversion comes as we live pure and virtuous lives and enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-l-oscarson/conversion-comes-as-we-live-pure-and-virtuous-lives-and-enjoy-the/)

[Bonnie L. Oscarson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-l-oscarson/)

> [She lived, we'll say, A harmless life, she called a virtuous life, A quiet life, which was not life at all (But that she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/she-lived-we-ll-say-a-harmless-life-she-called-a-virtuous-life-a/)

[Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/)

> [“Our modern-day society is often so consumed with external appearances that living a virtuous life may sound boring and dull. However, the love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/our-modern-day-society-is-often-so-consumed-with-external-appearances/)

[Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/)

> [It is simply impossible to lead, without the aid of prayer, a virtuous life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/it-is-simply-impossible-to-lead-without-the-aid-of-prayer-a-virtuous/)

[Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/)

> [To believe in the supernatural is not simply to believe that after living a successful, material, and fairly virtuous life here one will continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/to-believe-in-the-supernatural-is-not-simply-to-believe-that-after/)

[T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/)

> [“A harmless life, she called a virtuous life, A quiet life, which was not life at all . . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/a-harmless-life-she-called-a-virtuous-life-a-quiet-life-which-was-not/)

[Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/)

> [“And yet by nature the servants are born free; for no man is by nature a slave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philo-of-alexandria/and-yet-by-nature-the-servants-are-born-free-for-no-man-is-by-nature/)

[Philo of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philo-of-alexandria/)

> [“Like the majority of irreproachably virtuous women, wearying often of the monotony of a virtuous life, Dolly from a distance excused illicit love, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/like-the-majority-of-irreproachably-virtuous-women-wearying-often-of/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

## More by Oliver Harper

> [“By creating and initiating things, we set relative time in motion, giving time a purpose and function under the heavens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/by-creating-and-initiating-things-we-set-relative-time-in-motion/)

[Oliver Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/)

> [“The parent of every great and lasting decision is a thought. Therefore, contemplate deeply and thoroughly and then execute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/the-parent-of-every-great-and-lasting-decision-is-a-thought-therefore/)

[Oliver Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/)

> [“Time is a mystery that is experienced through the inevitability of change and not a mystery to be solved&gt;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/time-is-a-mystery-that-is-experienced-through-the-inevitability-of/)

[oliver harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/)

> [“The ability of each individual to ignite a thought and usher into reality that which was previously invisible into something visible is unique to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/the-ability-of-each-individual-to-ignite-a-thought-and-usher-into/)

[Oliver Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/)

> [“Your Breakthrough moment is your footprint in the sands of time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/your-breakthrough-moment-is-your-footprint-in-the-sands-of-time/)

[Oliver Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/)

> [“The gift of time is God's gift to you, what you do in time is your gift to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/the-gift-of-time-is-god-s-gift-to-you-what-you-do-in-time-is-your/)

[Oliver Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/)

> [“A breakthrough moment is an existential event that is birthed when convictions are fully conceived and willed into existence by an adverse circumstance or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/a-breakthrough-moment-is-an-existential-event-that-is-birthed-when/)

[Oliver Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/)

> [“Time gives our lives numerous opportunities demarcated into moments that allow us to connect the dots while looking back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/time-gives-our-lives-numerous-opportunities-demarcated-into-moments/)

[Oliver Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/)

> [“Time is a quotient of the laws of the universe with a distinct directionality, depending on your cultural lens of seeing time as circular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/time-is-a-quotient-of-the-laws-of-the-universe-with-a-distinct/)

[oliver harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/)

> [“Time is ubiquitous to humanity and nature but its ephemeral experience within and among us is conceptualized through the lens of culture and langauge”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/time-is-ubiquitous-to-humanity-and-nature-but-its-ephemeral/)

[Oliver Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/)

> [“Time is purposeful, experienced uniquely, regulated culturally, momentarily tough when fashioned through negative thoughts, but bequeathed to us all indiscriminately under the heavens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/time-is-purposeful-experienced-uniquely-regulated-culturally/)

[Oliver Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/)

> [“Motion is life and life is motion, and a breakthrough is a catapult move that sets goals in motion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/motion-is-life-and-life-is-motion-and-a-breakthrough-is-a-catapult/)

[oliver harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/)

> [“Time is a mysterious gift given with measure and purpose to be uniquely unwrapped and deployed in the service of feats that benefit humanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/time-is-a-mysterious-gift-given-with-measure-and-purpose-to-be/)

[Oliver Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/)

> [“Time's purpose provides a temporal opportunity for each individual to give that which is unique to the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/time-s-purpose-provides-a-temporal-opportunity-for-each-individual-to/)

[oliver harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/)

[Explore all 15 Oliver Harper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/)

## More Integrity quotes

> [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [I can be taken away from myself quite easily, I kind of start betraying myself and compromising my integrity, to keep someone else happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-lou-wood/i-can-be-taken-away-from-myself-quite-easily-i-kind-of-start/)

[Aimee Lou Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-lou-wood/)

> [I take the responsibility of playing another ethnicity very, very seriously, and I promise myself and those people that I will represent them with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-curtis/i-take-the-responsibility-of-playing-another-ethnicity-very-very/)

[Cliff Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-curtis/)

> [I have often spoken of integrity as the most important of these values, realizing that integrity – and personal integrity, at that – is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verghese-kurien/i-have-often-spoken-of-integrity-as-the-most-important-of-these/)

[Verghese Kurien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verghese-kurien/)

> [The Kennedys have always represented a certain royal quality, Camelot, and they represent a great deal of integrity and strength and perseverance; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-slater/the-kennedys-have-always-represented-a-certain-royal-quality-camelot/)

[Christian Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-slater/)

> [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/)

[Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/)

> [A man should be upright, not kept upright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-man-should-be-upright-not-kept-upright/)

[Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/)

> [“God has a way of picking a “nobody” and turning their world upside down, in order to create a “somebody” that will remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-has-a-way-of-picking-a-nobody-and-turning-their-world-upside-down/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [Too much principle is often more harmful than too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/too-much-principle-is-often-more-harmful-than-too-little/)

[Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/)

> [The interesting thing is that everyone in golf is just nice. You learn a lot about people playing golf: their integrity, how they play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-interesting-thing-is-that-everyone-in-golf-is-just-nice-you-learn/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [Don't worry so much about your self-esteem. Worry more about your character. Integrity is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/don-t-worry-so-much-about-your-self-esteem-worry-more-about-your/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [The family remains the basic unit of society and the first school in which children learn the human, spiritual and moral values which enable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-family-remains-the-basic-unit-of-society-and-the-first-school-in/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [“We should remark the grace and fascination that there is even in the incidentals of Nature's processes.. When a loaf of bread,. for instance,.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-should-remark-the-grace-and-fascination-that-there-is-even-in-the/)

[Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/)

> [The reason I do small, independent movies is because I want to keep my soul intact and maintain some kind of integrity within this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-bell/the-reason-i-do-small-independent-movies-is-because-i-want-to-keep-my/)

[Jamie Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-bell/)

> [The 'key-log' which must be moved to release the evolutionary process for an ethic is simply this: quit thinking about decent land-use as solely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/land-ethic/the-key-log-which-must-be-moved-to-release-the-evolutionary-process/)

Land ethic

[Browse all 4,810 Integrity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The true measure of a virtuous life is how we redeem time by deeds and the exemplification and personification of principles that bring heaven to earth.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Oliver Harper"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/the-true-measure-of-a-virtuous-life-is-how-we-redeem-time-by-deeds/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Integrity"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/the-true-measure-of-a-virtuous-life-is-how-we-redeem-time-by-deeds/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/oliver-harper-32871_integrity_the-true-measure-of-a-virtuous-life-is-h_1210740.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/oliver-harper-32871_integrity_the-true-measure-of-a-virtuous-life-is-h_1210740.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/oliver-harper-32871_integrity_the-true-measure-of-a-virtuous-life-is-h_1210740.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The true measure of a virtuous life is how we redeem time by deeds and the exemplification and…” — Oliver Harper",
                "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": "Oliver Harper",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The true measure of a virtuous...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/the-true-measure-of-a-virtuous-life-is-how-we-redeem-time-by-deeds/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/the-true-measure-of-a-virtuous-life-is-how-we-redeem-time-by-deeds/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
