--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not only spirits who punish the…" description: "\"It is not only spirits who punish the evil, the soul brings itself to judgment: and also it is not right for those who endure for ever to attain everyt..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/sallust-4191_endure_it-is-not-only-spirits-who-punish-the-ev_321109.jpg" --- # It is not only spirits who punish the evil, the soul… ![“It is not only spirits who punish the evil, the soul brings itself to judgment: and also it is not right for those who endure for ever to attain everything in a short time: and also, there is need of human virtue. If punishment followed instantly upon sin, men would act justly from fear and have…” quote by Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/sallust-4191_endure_it-is-not-only-spirits-who-punish-the-ev_321109.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/sallust-4191_endure_it-is-not-only-spirits-who-punish-the-ev_321109.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/sallust-4191_endure_it-is-not-only-spirits-who-punish-the-ev_321109.jpg) > “It is not only spirits who punish the evil, the soul brings itself to judgment: and also it is not right for those who endure for ever to attain everything in a short time: and also, there is need of human virtue. If punishment followed instantly upon sin, men would act justly from fear and have no virtue.” [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Justice is delayed; immediate punishment would eliminate moral growth and virtue. **In simple terms:** Delayed justice fosters virtue. Key Takeaway Allow time for moral development. Themes justice virtue punishment Mood reflective philosophical Type historical essay When to use this quote - legal systems - ethical education - personal accountability Key Concepts moral philosophy human nature Questions to Reflect On - Is punishment ever truly immediate? - How does virtue develop without fear? A Different Perspective Immediate punishment may cause fear, not true justice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Virtue is its own punishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-bevan/virtue-is-its-own-punishment/) [Aneurin Bevan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-bevan/) > [“Not to punish evil is equivalent to authorizing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/not-to-punish-evil-is-equivalent-to-authorizing-it/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [“God's original purpose for government was to punish the evil and reward the good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-r-bowen/god-s-original-purpose-for-government-was-to-punish-the-evil-and/) William R. Bowen > [He who does not punish evil commands it to be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/he-who-does-not-punish-evil-commands-it-to-be-done/) [Leonardo Da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-smith/be-subject-for-the-lord-s-sake-to-every-human-institution-whether-it/) [Scotty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-smith/) > [Religions don't own compassion; it is a human virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/religions-don-t-own-compassion-it-is-a-human-virtue/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [“It’s only human,' you cry in defense of any depravity, reaching the stage of self-abasement where you seek to make the concept 'human' mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/it-s-only-human-you-cry-in-defense-of-any-depravity-reaching-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [We are human less by virtue of our ideal goals than by the vice of our inferiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/we-are-human-less-by-virtue-of-our-ideal-goals-than-by-the-vice-of/) [James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/) > [We did not choose to believe that personal choice is the highest human virtue. Rather, we were taught, formed, forced to believe nothing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-willimon/we-did-not-choose-to-believe-that-personal-choice-is-the-highest/) [William Henry Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-willimon/) > [“Dignity is an inherent value and human virtue which represents the best of mankind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/dignity-is-an-inherent-value-and-human-virtue-which-represents-the/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [The belief in potential human virtue underlies the whole idea of the Bill of Rights; the document is a very tough guardian of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/the-belief-in-potential-human-virtue-underlies-the-whole-idea-of-the/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [The history of human conduct does not warrant that exalted opinion of human virtue which would make it wise in a nation to commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-history-of-human-conduct-does-not-warrant-that-exalted-opinion-of/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Society is the true sphere of human virtue. In social, active life, difficulties will perpetually be met with; restraints of many kinds will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-carter/society-is-the-true-sphere-of-human-virtue-in-social-active-life/) Elizabeth Carter > [“What poor, mean trash this whole business of human virtue is! A mere matter, for the most part, of latitude and longitude, and geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/what-poor-mean-trash-this-whole-business-of-human-virtue-is-a-mere/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [Seldom indeed does human virtue rise From trunk to branch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/seldom-indeed-does-human-virtue-rise-from-trunk-to-branch/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) ## More by Sallust > [It is impossible that there should be so much providence in the last details, and none in the first principles. Then the arts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/it-is-impossible-that-there-should-be-so-much-providence-in-the-last/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [As the blessings of health and fortune have a beginning, so they must also find an end. Everything rises but to fall, and increases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/as-the-blessings-of-health-and-fortune-have-a-beginning-so-they-must/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Everything that rises sets, and everything that grows, grows old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/everything-that-rises-sets-and-everything-that-grows-grows-old/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Fame is the shadow of passion standing in the light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/fame-is-the-shadow-of-passion-standing-in-the-light/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [The Romans assisted their allies and friends, and acquired friendships by giving rather than receiving kindness. \[Lat., Sociis atque amicis auxilia portabant Romani, magisque…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/the-romans-assisted-their-allies-and-friends-and-acquired-friendships/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [A good man prefers to suffer rather than overcome injustice with evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/a-good-man-prefers-to-suffer-rather-than-overcome-injustice-with-evil/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [It is not unlikely, too, that the rejection of God is a kind of punishment: we may well believe that those who knew the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/it-is-not-unlikely-too-that-the-rejection-of-god-is-a-kind-of/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [To hope for safety in flight, when you have turned away from the enemy the arms by which the body is defended, is indeed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/to-hope-for-safety-in-flight-when-you-have-turned-away-from-the-enemy/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [By the wicked the good conduct of others is always dreaded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/by-the-wicked-the-good-conduct-of-others-is-always-dreaded/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [By union the smallest states thrive. By discord the greatest are destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/by-union-the-smallest-states-thrive-by-discord-the-greatest-are/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/ambition-drove-many-men-to-become-false-to-have-one-thought-locked-in/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [The soul is the captain and ruler of the life of morals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/the-soul-is-the-captain-and-ruler-of-the-life-of-morals/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Not by vows nor by womanish prayers is the help of the gods obtained; success comes through vigilance, energy, wise counsel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/not-by-vows-nor-by-womanish-prayers-is-the-help-of-the-gods-obtained/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [ Enough words, little wisdom. \[Lat., Satis eloquentiae sapientiae parum.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/enough-words-little-wisdom-lat-satis-eloquentiae-sapientiae-parum/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Fortune rules in all things, and advances and depresses things more out of her own will than right and justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/fortune-rules-in-all-things-and-advances-and-depresses-things-more/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) [Explore all 115 Sallust quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) ## More Endure quotes > [So many things beat upon us in a lifetime that simply enduring may seem almost beyond us… But the test a loving God has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/so-many-things-beat-upon-us-in-a-lifetime-that-simply-enduring-may/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/this-is-no-time-for-ease-and-comfort-it-is-time-to-dare-and-endure/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [It is easy enough to say that man is immortal simply because he will endure: that when the last ding-dong of doom has clanged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-is-easy-enough-to-say-that-man-is-immortal-simply-because-he-will/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [It is well for a man when he has learned to endure what he cannot change, and to give up with dignity what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/it-is-well-for-a-man-when-he-has-learned-to-endure-what-he-cannot/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and to endure very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-art-of-life-is-to-know-how-to-enjoy-a-little-and-to-endure-very/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Life is not a PG feel-good movie. Real life often ends badly. Literature tries to document this reality, while showing us it is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/life-is-not-a-pg-feel-good-movie-real-life-often-ends-badly/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [It is impossible to build enduring institutions without solid values. For us, the fundamental value is that associated with democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-henrique-cardoso/it-is-impossible-to-build-enduring-institutions-without-solid-values/) [Fernando Henrique Cardoso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-henrique-cardoso/) > [I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/i-will-love-the-light-for-it-shows-me-the-way-yet-i-will-endure-the/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [“This is how they are able to continue and endure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/this-is-how-they-are-able-to-continue-and-endure/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [There are many who say they want to be victorious Christians, but few are willing to endure the discipline necessary to make one a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/there-are-many-who-say-they-want-to-be-victorious-christians-but-few/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [“Whatever befalls us, we will endure it together. I clutch my longbow and dagger close to my side. My last thoughts linger on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-noce/whatever-befalls-us-we-will-endure-it-together-i-clutch-my-longbow/) [Mark Noce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-noce/) > [“One by one, I'll face the tasks before me and complete them as best I can. Focusing on each stride forward, but at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/one-by-one-i-ll-face-the-tasks-before-me-and-complete-them-as-best-i/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) Browse all 2,549 Endure quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not only spirits who punish the evil, the soul brings itself to judgment: and also it is not right for those who endure for ever to attain everything in a short time: and also, there is need of human virtue. 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