Character Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
““A virtue that only causes havoc and unhappiness is worth nothing. You can call it virtue if you like. I call it cowardice.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Of Human Bondage, 1915
A false virtue that causes harm is meaningless; true virtue aligns with goodness.
In simple terms: Harmful virtue is worthless.
Key Takeaway
Question the value of actions that cause suffering.
Themes
ethics
integrity
authenticity
virtue
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
advice
When to use this quote
- leadership
- personal relationships
- social movements
- policy making
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
psychology
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it ever justified to break a harmful “virtue”?
- How do you discern genuine virtue?
A Different Perspective
What appears virtuous may hide selfish motives.
![“For her [Françoise], wealth was like a necessary condition without which virtue would lack both merit and charm. She made so little distinction between the two that she came to see their qualities as interchangeable, expecting material comfort from virtue and moral edification from wealth.” quote by Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/marcel-proust-114_character_for-her-fran-oise-wealth-was-like-a-nece_2687.jpg)
