---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Virtue? A fig! 'Tis in ourselves that we…"
description: "\"“Virtue? A fig! 'Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus.”\" — William Shakespeare"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/william-shakespeare-4_character_virtue-a-fig-tis-in-ourselves-that-we-ar_1794298.jpg"
---

#  Virtue? A fig! 'Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus.

![“Virtue? A fig! 'Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/william-shakespeare-4_character_virtue-a-fig-tis-in-ourselves-that-we-ar_1794298.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/william-shakespeare-4_character_virtue-a-fig-tis-in-ourselves-that-we-ar_1794298.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/william-shakespeare-4_character_virtue-a-fig-tis-in-ourselves-that-we-ar_1794298.jpg)

> ““Virtue? A fig! 'Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus.””

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

## About This Quote

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

Virtue is not an external ideal but a personal condition; we define it within ourselves.

**In simple terms:** Virtue comes from within.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate personal integrity.

Themes

self‑knowledge virtue human nature

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal growth
- leadership
- ethical decision‑making

Key Concepts

existentialism self‑actualization

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you define virtue for yourself?
- Can external expectations ever fully shape character?

A Different Perspective

External standards cannot replace inner moral development.

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[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Iago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iago/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtue Fig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-fig-414284/)

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