Virtue vs Virtues: The Lost Language of True Happiness
- Beata
- Jun 3
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 15
Beyond Good Habits: Reclaiming the True Meaning of Virtue
The words virtue and virtues may sound outdated—relics of ancient philosophy or dusty catechisms. But beneath their formal tone lies a vibrant language of happiness, transformation, and inner strength.
This post explores the deeper meaning of virtue as a state of being—what Aristotle called the excellence of the soul—and how the virtues, as practical expressions of that state, shape our journey toward lasting joy.
By tracing the origins and evolution of these terms, and unpacking wisdom from Aristotle to Viktor Frankl to the saints, we’ll reclaim these words not just as moral ideals, but as living principles for a fulfilled life.
Jordan Peterson often emphasizes that true morality isn’t about following rules—it’s about embodying responsibility and meaning. In that light, virtue is not just about appearing “good” but about becoming someone deeply integrated, courageous, and capable of facing the chaos of life. The study of virtue invites us to grow, not to please others, but to live rightly, even sacrificially, in the pursuit of what is true and meaningful.
Let’s unpack the meaning, origins, and the story of the word virtue, especially through the lens of Aristotle, its etymology, and historical development.
Virtue vs Virtues
🌱1. What Are Virtues?
Virtues are moral excellences—stable character traits that guide a person toward good actions and a flourishing life. Think of them as inner strengths that help us live well and ethically.
According to Aristotle, virtues are habits or dispositions formed by repeated good actions, lying in a "golden mean" between two extremes (vices). For example:
Courage is the virtue between cowardice and recklessness.
Generosity lies between stinginess and extravagance.
For Aristotle, living virtuously leads to eudaimonia—often translated as flourishing or deep happiness.
🌱2. Aristotle’s View on Virtue (Arete)
Aristotle spoke of "arete" (Greek: ἀρετή), which means excellence or virtue. For him:
Virtue is about function: just as a knife’s virtue is to cut well, a human’s virtue is to live rationally and ethically.
He divided virtues into:
🍒Moral virtues (e.g., temperance, courage)
🍒Intellectual virtues (e.g., wisdom, understanding)
He taught that virtue is cultivated by practice, like learning to play an instrument or sport. It becomes second nature.
🌱3. Etymology: The Word Roots of "Virtue"
Latin: virtus — meaning manliness, valor, excellence, from vir, meaning man.
Virtus originally referred to qualities admired in a Roman man: bravery, strength, and civic duty.
Over time, the meaning broadened beyond masculinity to moral excellence for all people.
So:
vir (man) → virtus (manly excellence) → virtue (moral excellence)
This linguistic shift tells a story: from heroic traits in war and politics to internal traits of character.
🌱4. The Story of "Virtue" Through Time
Ancient Greece (Arete): excellence in all things, not just moral. A well-made tool or a well-lived life could both possess arete.
Rome (Virtus): courage, leadership, public service. Rooted in masculine ideals.
Christian Era: Virtue becomes spiritual and moral—faith, hope, love, humility.
Modern Ethics: A revival of Aristotelian virtue ethics, focusing on character, not just rules or consequences.
A Word with a Journey
Virtue began as excellence and strength, linked to manliness and action.
Aristotle gave it philosophical weight, connecting it to reason, balance, and flourishing.
Over centuries, it evolved into a deeply moral and spiritual ideal.
Here are ways of behaving that are most conducive to happiness—rooted in philosophy, psychology, and spiritual wisdom.
These are not just "good habits," but virtues in action that cultivate deep, lasting joy (not just fleeting pleasure).
Top Virtue-Based Behaviours That Lead to Happiness (Eudaimonia):
🍒1. Practicing Gratitude
What it is: Acknowledging and appreciating the good.
Why it matters: Trains the mind to focus on abundance, not lack.
Virtue: Thankfulness / Humility
🍒2. Acting with Integrity
What it is: Aligning actions with values and truth.
Why it matters: Reduces internal conflict and builds self-respect.
Virtue: Honesty / Justice
🍒3. Choosing Moderation
What it is: Enjoying pleasures without excess or addiction.
Why it matters: Brings balance, avoids regret.
Virtue: Temperance / Self-control
🍒4. Being Courageous
What it is: Doing what's right even when it's hard.
Why it matters: Builds confidence and prevents regret.
Virtue: Fortitude / Bravery
🍒5. Cultivating Compassion
What it is: Understanding and caring for others' pain.
Why it matters: Strengthens relationships and creates meaning.
Virtue: Love / Mercy
🍒6. Living with Purpose
What it is: Pursuing meaningful goals beyond self.
Why it matters: Creates direction and fulfillment.
Virtue: Wisdom / Vision
🍒7. Practicing Forgiveness
What it is: Letting go of resentment.
Why it matters: Frees the heart and heals relationships.
Virtue: Mercy / Generosity
🍒8. Being Present
What it is: Engaging fully in the moment.
Why it matters: Increases joy, reduces anxiety.
Virtue: Mindfulness / Reverence
🍒9. Seeking Truth
What it is: Being open to learning and self-examination.
Why it matters: Leads to growth and authenticity.
Virtue: Wisdom / Humility
🍒10. Serving Others
What it is: Helping without expecting return.
Why it matters: Creates deep joy and connection.
Virtue: Charity / Justice
🌹🌿In Short:
True happiness comes not from what we have, but from who we become.
Virtue is the road to flourishing.
🌿Here are quotes from saints, philosophers, and modern thinkers about virtues and happiness:
Quotes on Virtue and Happiness
1. Aristotle
"Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence."
Aristotle
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."
3. St. Thomas Aquinas
"Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man’s own will."
4. C.S. Lewis
"Virtue—even attempted virtue—brings light; indulgence brings fog."
5. Marcus Aurelius
"Just that you do the right thing. The rest doesn’t matter."
6. St. Augustine
"Virtue is a good habit consonant with our nature."
7. Confucius
"The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort."
8. Plato
"The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself."
9. G.K. Chesterton
"Virtue is not the absence of vices or the avoidance of moral dangers; virtue is a vivid and separate thing."
10. Brené Brown
"Integrity is choosing courage over comfort; choosing what is right over what is fun, fast, or easy."
🌿🌿🌿Virtue vs Virtues in Shortt
Virtue (singular):
🌿Meaning:
The word virtue refers to the quality of moral excellence or righteousness — a general state of being good or living rightly.
It can also refer to a particular moral quality, like patience or courage.
Sometimes it is used to express the concept of virtue as a whole.
🌿Examples:
Virtue is its own reward.
She lived a life of great virtue.
Virtues (plural):
🌿Meaning:
Virtues refers to specific moral qualities or habits of good behaviour that a person lives out — like humility, courage, faith, etc.
It often appears in lists (like the Seven Heavenly Virtues, or the Seven Virtues of Mary).
It points to practical expressions of goodness.
🌿Examples:
Faith, hope, and charity are Christian virtues.
We admire her virtues of honesty and kindness.
🌿In short:
🌹Virtue = the concept or quality of moral excellence
🌹🌹Virtues = specific traits or habits that reflect that excellence
🌿The phrase
“Don’t think less of yourself, just think of yourself less”
beautifully mirrors the spirit of virtue vs. virtues:
🌿Virtue is the inner orientation — like humility — a deep quality of the soul.
🌿Virtues are how that orientation shows up in life — like not needing to be the center of attention, or putting someone else’s need first.
So humility, for example, isn’t about self-deprecation (thinking less of yourself), but about freedom from ego (thinking of yourself less). True virtue doesn’t make you shrink — it allows others to shine beside you.
Virtue Reclaimed: What We’ve Learned
Virtue is not just a list of good behaviours—it’s the radiant strength of the soul aligned with its highest purpose. The virtues are its visible forms, lived out in our everyday choices. When understood rightly, they are not burdens but paths to freedom, joy, and spiritual vitality.
In our age of confusion between virtue-signalling and actual virtue, returning to the classical and spiritual roots of virtue helps us reimagine the human potential for joy, resilience, and holiness.
As Jordan Peterson has reflected, true morality isn’t about conforming to societal expectations—it’s about choosing responsibility over comfort, meaning over ease, and transformation over image. Virtue is a lifelong pursuit, not a polished personality trait. It demands intention, courage, and grace.
This is precisely why the spiritual path must go beyond theory. It must enter the heart.
The Chaplet of the Seven Virtues of Mary is one such path—an invitation to grow daily in humility, purity, charity, patience, kindness, obedience, and diligence.
These are not just pious ideals, but powerful virtues embodied in Mary, the Mother of God, and offered to us for imitation. If you're drawn to live a life of deeper purpose and spiritual integration, this chaplet is a gentle yet transformative guide.
🕊️ Let virtue be more than a word. Let it become your way.
In the End, It’s About the Soul
If this exploration sparked something in your heart, don’t let it stay as a passing thought. Reflect on the virtues in your own life. Which ones feel alive, and which need cultivating?
🌹 Read next: Tend Love Like Roses – a reflection on care, beauty, and virtue in daily life.
👉 Like what you read? Please share your thoughts in the comments, give this post a like, and share it with someone who values inner growth. 🌹
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