--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is always one's virtues and not one's…" description: "\"It is always one's virtues and not one's vices that precipitate one into disaster.\" — Rebecca West" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bf/rebecca-west-1248_character_it-is-always-one-s-virtues-and-not-one-s_2516842.jpg" --- # It is always one's virtues and not one's vices that… ![“It is always one's virtues and not one's vices that precipitate one into disaster.” quote by Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bf/rebecca-west-1248_character_it-is-always-one-s-virtues-and-not-one-s_2516842.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bf/rebecca-west-1248_character_it-is-always-one-s-virtues-and-not-one-s_2516842.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bf/rebecca-west-1248_character_it-is-always-one-s-virtues-and-not-one-s_2516842.jpg) > “It is always one's virtues and not one's vices that precipitate one into disaster.” [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Virtues, not vices, are the true cause of disaster. **In simple terms:** Good character prevents catastrophe. Key Takeaway Cultivate virtues to avoid disaster. Themes ethics character consequence Mood analytical cautionary Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - leadership decisions - personal choices - policy making Key Concepts moral philosophy psychology risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - Which virtues are most protective? - Can vices ever lead to positive outcomes? A Different Perspective Virtues alone may not prevent external misfortunes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues/) ## Related quotes > [The impression that you are a demigod worried me. I wanted to be like an ordinary human being with virtues and vices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/the-impression-that-you-are-a-demigod-worried-me-i-wanted-to-be-like/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Our virtues are most often but our vices disguised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-virtues-are-most-often-but-our-vices-disguised/) [François De La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Virtues and vices, pleasures and pains cross boundaries at will”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/virtues-and-vices-pleasures-and-pains-cross-boundaries-at-will/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Live by old Ethicks and the classical Rules of Honesty. Put no new names or notions upon Authentick Virtues and Vices. Think not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-thomas-browne/live-by-old-ethicks-and-the-classical-rules-of-honesty-put-no-new/) Sir Thomas Browne > [Fortune makes our virtues and vices visible, just as light does the objects of sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/fortune-makes-our-virtues-and-vices-visible-just-as-light-does-the/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Nature seems at each man's birth to have marked out the bounds of his virtues and vices, and to have determined how good or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/nature-seems-at-each-man-s-birth-to-have-marked-out-the-bounds-of-his/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We are more inclined to regret our virtues than our vices; but only the very honest will admit this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/we-are-more-inclined-to-regret-our-virtues-than-our-vices-but-only/) [Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/) > [Men have their virtues and their vices, their heroisms and their perversities; men are neither wholly good nor wholly bad, but possess and practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/men-have-their-virtues-and-their-vices-their-heroisms-and-their/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Animals are nothing but the portrayal of our virtues and vices made manifest to our eyes, the visible reflections of our souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/animals-are-nothing-but-the-portrayal-of-our-virtues-and-vices-made/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Fundamental disposition towards others, assuming the character either of Envy or of Sympathy, is the point at which the moral virtues and vices of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/fundamental-disposition-towards-others-assuming-the-character-either/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [The virtues and vices are all put in motion by interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-virtues-and-vices-are-all-put-in-motion-by-interest/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“He studies virtues, vices, flaws and merits, the wisdom and puerility of others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/he-studies-virtues-vices-flaws-and-merits-the-wisdom-and-puerility-of/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [Among the virtues and vices that make up the British character, we have one vice, at least, that Americans ought to view with sympathy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/among-the-virtues-and-vices-that-make-up-the-british-character-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is not the most distinguished achievements that men's virtues or vices may be best discovered; but very often an action of small note.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/it-is-not-the-most-distinguished-achievements-that-men-s-virtues-or/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [When we are sick our virtues and our vices are in abeyance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/when-we-are-sick-our-virtues-and-our-vices-are-in-abeyance/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) ## More by Rebecca West > [I see the main problem of my life, and indeed anybody's life, as the balancing of competitive freedoms ... a sense of mutual obligations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/i-see-the-main-problem-of-my-life-and-indeed-anybody-s-life-as-the/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [“There is, of course, no reason for the existence of the male sex except that sometimes one needs help with moving the piano.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/there-is-of-course-no-reason-for-the-existence-of-the-male-sex-except/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [“At the top of a hill our automobile stuck in a snowdrift. Peasants ran out of a cottage near by, shouting with laughter because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/at-the-top-of-a-hill-our-automobile-stuck-in-a-snowdrift-peasants-ran/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [We all drew on the comfort which is given out by the major works of Mozart, which is as real and material as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/we-all-drew-on-the-comfort-which-is-given-out-by-the-major-works-of/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [Christianity must be regarded not as a final revelation but as a phase of revelation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/christianity-must-be-regarded-not-as-a-final-revelation-but-as-a/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [Art and propaganda have this much connection, that if a propaganda makes art impossible, it is clearly damned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/art-and-propaganda-have-this-much-connection-that-if-a-propaganda/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [The American struggle for the vote was much more difficult than the English for the simple reason that it was much more easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/the-american-struggle-for-the-vote-was-much-more-difficult-than-the/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [ Like all bad drivers, he \[Henry Andrews\] thought he was the best driver in the world... ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/like-all-bad-drivers-he-henry-andrews-thought-he-was-the-best-driver/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [The childhood of the individual and the race is full of fears, and panic-stricken attempts to avert what is feared by placating the gods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/the-childhood-of-the-individual-and-the-race-is-full-of-fears-and/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [Humanity is never more sphinxlike than when it is expressing itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/humanity-is-never-more-sphinxlike-than-when-it-is-expressing-itself/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [ \[On Jane Austen:\] To believe her limited in range because she was harmonious in method is as sensible as to imagine that when the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/on-jane-austen-to-believe-her-limited-in-range-because-she-was/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [a good oyster cannot please the palate as acutely as a bad one can revolt it, and a good oyster cannot make him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/a-good-oyster-cannot-please-the-palate-as-acutely-as-a-bad-one-can/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [If there is a God, I don't think He would demand that anyone bow down or stand up to Him. I often have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/if-there-is-a-god-i-don-t-think-he-would-demand-that-anyone-bow-down/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [Any authentic work of art must start an argument between the artist and his audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/any-authentic-work-of-art-must-start-an-argument-between-the-artist/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [... there has never been a period in history when there have been necessary killings which has not been instantly followed by a period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/there-has-never-been-a-period-in-history-when-there-have-been/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) [Explore all 264 Rebecca West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is always one's virtues and not one's vices that precipitate one into disaster.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rebecca West" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/it-is-always-one-s-virtues-and-not-one-s-vices-that-precipitate-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/it-is-always-one-s-virtues-and-not-one-s-vices-that-precipitate-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bf/rebecca-west-1248_character_it-is-always-one-s-virtues-and-not-one-s_2516842.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bf/rebecca-west-1248_character_it-is-always-one-s-virtues-and-not-one-s_2516842.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bf/rebecca-west-1248_character_it-is-always-one-s-virtues-and-not-one-s_2516842.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is always one's virtues and not one's vices that precipitate one into disaster.” — Rebecca West", "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": "Rebecca West", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is always one's virtues and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/it-is-always-one-s-virtues-and-not-one-s-vices-that-precipitate-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/it-is-always-one-s-virtues-and-not-one-s-vices-that-precipitate-one/#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 } } ] } ```