The Master List of Virtues - BeliefCloset

1 The Master List of Virtues Compiled by Lion Goodman People say that there are many sins and Virtues , but I think there is only one sin . to let one breath go without being conscious of it. -- Hazrat Sayyed Abu Hashim Madani, Sufi Master A virtue is a habit or quality that allows the bearer to succeed at his/her/its purpose. The virtue of a knife, for example, is sharpness; among the Virtues of a racehorse is speed. Thus to identify the Virtues for human beings, one must have an account of what the human purpose is. This is a list of Virtues compiled from many sources. Please feel free to edit and add to this document if you see omissions or errors. Write to me with your corrections: Consider this a community resource. Share it freely, modify it freely. See the Creative Commons License information on the last page.

2 Eudaimonia is a state variously translated from Greek as well-being, happiness, blessedness, and in the context of virtue ethics, human flourishing. Eudaimonia in this sense is not a subjective, but an objective, state. It characterizes the well-lived life, irrespective of the emotional state of the person experiencing it. According to Aristotle, eudaimonia is the proper goal of human life. It consists of exercising the characteristic human quality reason as the soul's most proper and nourishing activity. Aristotle, like Plato before him, argued that the pursuit of eudaimonia was an activity that could only properly be exercised in the characteristic human community the polis or city-state (we would call it our community). For the virtue theorist, eudaimonia describes that state achieved by the person who lives the proper human life, an outcome that can be reached by practicing the Virtues .

3 More than 650 Virtues are listed. Three lists follow the Master List of Virtues : The Master List of Vices (more than 350), The Master List of Values ( Values Technology, Inc.), and The VIA Classification of Character Strengths ( . ). How to Use This List Life presents us, at every moment, opportunities to practice the Virtues : How you choose to act or respond to what presents itself to you. Here are suggestions for practicing them more consciously: Circle the Virtues you want to practice during the coming year, and post them visibly so you can be reminded of them every day. Create a set of Virtue Cards and pick one each day to practice. Review the list of Vices, recognize which ones you have been practicing in your life, and practice the opposite Virtue for one full week.

4 Look up in a dictionary any words that are unfamiliar, or which you can't define, including the derivation, usage, and examples. Meditate on one Virtue each day. I wish you well on your journey to a more virtuous life of eudaimonia. The Master List of Virtues A awe companionship ability compassion abundance B completeness acceptance balance composure accountability beauty comprehension accuracy being true to oneself compromise achievement belief concentration acknowledgement benevolence confession acting on convictions benignity confidence activism bliss congruence adaptability bravery conscience adoration consciousness adventure C consecration advice candor conservatism affection capacity to love consideration aging gracefully capacity to be loved consistency allowing care contemplation altruism caring contentment amazement caution contribution ambition celebration control anger at injustice celibacy conviction anticipation certainty cooperation apology chance cooperativeness

5 Appeasement change correctness appreciation chaos courage appreciation of beauty character courteousness appreciation of charity courtesy excellence charm creativity approbation chastity credibility appropriate knowledge cheerfulness critical thinking appropriate conduct chivalry culture approval choice curiosity art citizenship assertiveness civility D. assumptions clarity death (acceptance of). atonement class decency attention cleanliness dedication attitude coincidence deliberation austerity collaboration delight authenticity commitment dependability authority communication desire autonomy communion destiny awareness community detachment determination F harmlessness devotion to Virtues failure (allowing for) harmony devotion to others fairness healing dignity faith health diligence faithfulness heaven on earth diplomacy family helpfulness discernment farsightedness helping others discipline fearlessness holiness dis-creation (of what feeling honesty is no longer needed)

6 Fidelity honor discretion finishing what's started hope disillusion flexibility hopefulness dissolution flow hospitality diversity focus humanity dreams forbearance humility dutifulness foresight humor forgiveness E fortitude I. eagerness frankness idealism earnestness freedom ideals ecstasy friendliness identities (ease of education friendship shifting). efficiency frugality illumination endurance fulfillment imagination effort (doing one's fun impartiality best) imperfection (allowing elegance G for). elevation gallantry inclusion eloquence generosity incorruptibility emotion genius independence empathy gentleness individuality emptiness genuineness industriousness encouragement glory ingenuity endurance goals initiative energy godliness inner exploration enlightenment good speech innocence enthusiasm goodness innovation epiphany grace insight equality grandeur inspiration equanimity gratefulness instinct esteem gratitude integrity etiquette gravitas intelligence excellence gravity interdependence excitement growth interest in the world expressiveness intimacy extravagance H intuition happiness inventiveness investigation modesty persuasion irony morality philanthropy motherhood piety J motivation pity joy planning joyfulness N play judgment (good)

7 Niceness playfulness justice nobility pleasure non-covetousness pluralism K non-duality politeness kind speech non-separateness positive bias kindness non-violence potency kinship nostalgia potential knowledge nurturance power (right use of). nurturing practice L practicality laughter O pragmatism leadership obedience (to higher praise learning principles) prayer leisure objectivity prayerfulness liberalism obligations (fulfillment precision liberty of) principles listening open-heartedness privacy logic open-mindedness privilege love openness potency love of learning optimism probity loving-kindness order problem-solving lovingness orderliness productivity loyalty organization professionalism luck originality profit luxuriating overcoming adversity (& promises impediments)

8 Propriety M prosperity majesty P protection management pacifism protest manners paradise prudence maturity passion punctuality meaning patience purification mellowness patriotism purity mercy peace purity of heart mildness peacefulness purpose mindfulness penitence purposeful work minessence (organiz- pensiveness purposefulness ing into higher order perseverance systems) persistence Q. mistakes (allowing for) personality quality evaluation moderation perspective quality improvement quest right use of power silence right use of will simplicity R righteousness sincerity radiance rights (respect for) skepticism rapture risk taking skill rationality rituals smartness realism romance sobriety reality roots social intelligence realization social responsibility reason S solidarity rebirth sacredness solitude receptivity sacrifice soul evolution reciprocity sadness soulfulness reconciliation salvation spirit rectitude sanity spiritual insight redemption satiety spirituality refinement satisfaction sportsmanship reflection secrecy (proper use)

9 Steadfastness relaxation security stick-to-it-iveness release seeing straightforwardness reliability self-awareness strength religiosity self-centeredness stress ( good ). remembering self-confidence study remembrance self-control success remorse self-discipline succor renunciation self-esteem suffering (with repentance self-examination understanding). reputation self-expression support of others research self-improvement surrender resilience self-possession sweet-tempered resisting temptations self-regulation sympathy resolution self-reliance synergy respect self-respect respectability self-restraint T. respectfulness self-righteousness tact responsibility self-trust tactfulness restraint sense of purpose talent reverence sensibility taste right action sensitivity teaching others right concentration sensory pleasure team-spirit right effort sensuality teamwork right intention sentimentality temperance right livelihood serendipity tenacity right mindfulness serenity tenderness right speech service thankfulness right view (Buddha's sharing thoroughness Noble Eightfold Path) shyness thoughtfulness thrift U W.

10 Time unconditional love wealth tithing understanding wholesomeness tolerance unity will (proper use of). tradition (respect for universality wisdom & maintenance of) unselfishness wonder training work tranquility V workmanship transcendence valor worship transcendental wisdom values worth transformation verbal acuity transition victory Y. trust vigor yes!-ing trustfulness virility youthfulness trustworthiness virtue truth vision Z. truthfulness vitality zealousness vulnerability zest The Master List of Vices Note that any of these vices can, under certain circumstances, be neutral or even positive Virtues . These are words used to describe behaviors and actions which tend NOT produce harmony, good, happiness, or eudaimonia, but rather their opposites. A celebrity despair abuse censoriousness destitution addictions chaos detachment adultery chauvinism deviance adversity complacency disappointment aggression complaining discord agitation compromise disrespect alcoholism conceit dissatisfaction alienation condescension dogmatism aloofness conflict dominance ambition conformity doubt anarchy confusion drudgery anger conniving dysfunctionality angst contempt animosity contradiction E.