--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness cannot be the reward of virtue…" description: "\"Happiness cannot be the reward of virtue; it must be the intelligible consequence of it.\" — Walter Lippmann" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cb/walter-lippmann-1083_character_happiness-cannot-be-the-reward-of-virtue_1793041.jpg" --- # Happiness cannot be the reward of virtue; it must be the… ![“Happiness cannot be the reward of virtue; it must be the intelligible consequence of it.” quote by Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cb/walter-lippmann-1083_character_happiness-cannot-be-the-reward-of-virtue_1793041.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cb/walter-lippmann-1083_character_happiness-cannot-be-the-reward-of-virtue_1793041.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cb/walter-lippmann-1083_character_happiness-cannot-be-the-reward-of-virtue_1793041.jpg) > “Happiness cannot be the reward of virtue; it must be the intelligible consequence of it.” [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Virtue leads to happiness not as a reward but as a natural, understandable outcome of moral behavior. **In simple terms:** Goodness naturally brings happiness. Key Takeaway Cultivate virtue for its own sake. Themes virtue happiness consequence Mood philosophical reflective Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - making ethical decisions - teaching values - reflecting on actions Key Concepts moral philosophy ethical living cause and effect Questions to Reflect On - Can happiness exist without virtue? - How do you recognize the link between your actions and well‑being? A Different Perspective Happiness can be fleeting despite virtue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Intelligible Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligible-consequence-1963493/) [Reward Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reward-virtue-444153/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtue Intelligible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-intelligible-1963492/) ## Related quotes > [Life is the reward of virtue. And happiness is the goal and reward of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/life-is-the-reward-of-virtue-and-happiness-is-the-goal-and-reward-of/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Vice is its own reward. It is virtue which, if it is to be marketed with consumer appeal, must carry Green Shield stamps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/vice-is-its-own-reward-it-is-virtue-which-if-it-is-to-be-marketed/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [Happiness is the reward of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-is-the-reward-of-virtue/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Happiness is not the reward of virtue, but is virtue itself; nor do we delight in happiness because we restrain from our lusts; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-is-not-the-reward-of-virtue-but-is-virtue-itself-nor-do-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only reward of virtue is virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-only-reward-of-virtue-is-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Where is the reward of virtue? and what recompense has nature provided for such important sacrifices as those of life and fortune, which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/where-is-the-reward-of-virtue-and-what-recompense-has-nature-provided/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-only-reward-of-virtue-is-virtue-the-only-way-to-have-a-friend-is/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Honor is the reward of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/honor-is-the-reward-of-virtue/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Virtue is not an end in itself. Virtue is not its own reward or sacrificial fodder for the reward of evil. Life is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/virtue-is-not-an-end-in-itself-virtue-is-not-its-own-reward-or/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Blessedness is not the reward of virtue but virtue itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/blessedness-is-not-the-reward-of-virtue-but-virtue-itself/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“Good is good in the final hour, in the deepest pit – without hope, without witness, without reward. Virtue is only virtue in extremis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/good-is-good-in-the-final-hour-in-the-deepest-pit-without-hope/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [No matter how hard a man may labor, some woman is always in the background of his mind. She is the one reward of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/no-matter-how-hard-a-man-may-labor-some-woman-is-always-in-the/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [“For when once people have begun to believe that prosperity is the reward of virtue, their next calamity is obvious. If prosperity is regarded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/for-when-once-people-have-begun-to-believe-that-prosperity-is-the/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [You want to be paid as well, you virtuous! You want reward for virtue, and heaven for earth, and eternity for your today?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/you-want-to-be-paid-as-well-you-virtuous-you-want-reward-for-virtue/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The English laws punish vice; the Chinese laws do more, they reward virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-english-laws-punish-vice-the-chinese-laws-do-more-they-reward/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) ## More by Walter Lippmann > [The emancipated woman has to fight something worse than the crusted prejudices of her uncles; she has to fight the bewilderment in her own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-emancipated-woman-has-to-fight-something-worse-than-the-crusted/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Even God has been defended with nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/even-god-has-been-defended-with-nonsense/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [A better distribution of incomes would increase that efficiency by diverting a great fund of wealth from the useless to the useful members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-better-distribution-of-incomes-would-increase-that-efficiency-by/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [There is but one bond of peace that is both permanent and enriching: The increasing knowledge of the world in which experiment occurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/there-is-but-one-bond-of-peace-that-is-both-permanent-and-enriching/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. 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A great power like the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/an-alliance-is-like-a-chain-it-is-not-made-stronger-by-adding-weak/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The chief element in the art of statesmanship under modern conditions is the ability to elucidate the confused and clamorous interests which converge upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-chief-element-in-the-art-of-statesmanship-under-modern-conditions/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [At the core of every moral code there is a picture of human nature, a map of the universe, and a version of history.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/at-the-core-of-every-moral-code-there-is-a-picture-of-human-nature-a/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The tendency of the casual mind is to pick out or stumble upon a sample which supports or defies its prejudices, and then to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-tendency-of-the-casual-mind-is-to-pick-out-or-stumble-upon-a/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [There is only one purpose to which a whole society can be directed by a deliberate plan. 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