Ford Madox Brown, 1852-6, Jesus Washing Peter's Feet
Mind, Virtue

Reaching Humility

Although a characteristic often associated with the downtrodden, humility is in fact a gift granted to those willing to keep their eyes open to blinding light.

Charles Le Brun, The Fall of the Rebel Angels, mid 1680's
Virtue

A Person Is More Than One Thing

Do not judge. We are so quick to demonize others, when we ourselves hold our own depravities. We all have both darkness and light.

Lorenzetti, Allegory of the Good Government, 1338–39
Exploring Philosophy, Meaning, Virtue

Fervent Fortitude

Fortitude is one of the cardinal virtues that most of us probably believe we understand. It is often called courage, strength, endurance-the facing of fears. But as ever, when discussed as a virtue, it becomes multifaceted. What is true and virtuous fortitude?

Mind, Virtue

Don’t Fear Being Foolish

We’re constantly concerned with how other people view us and the general state of our regality. Why are we so scared of appearing foolish? With quotes from Wilde & more

Piero del Pollaiolo, 1469/70, Prudence
Exploring Philosophy, Virtue

Introducing Prudence

Prudence isn’t something we hear much about these days. When we do, it’s usually loosely associated with cautiousness- hardly a virtue. Why then, was it believed to be a cardinal virtue for all those centuries? Quotes from Aesop, Eliot, Cicero & more.

Antonina Rzhevskaya, 1897, A Merry Moment
Meaning, Virtue

The Glow of Enthusiasm

Fatalism is a dead-end road and enthusiasm isn’t something we can ever afford to abandon. With quotes from Bishop Doane, R.W Emerson, D. Carnegie & F. Guizot.

Meditations, first page of the 1792 English translation by Richard Graves
Exploring Philosophy, Virtue

The Philosopher King

Marcus Aurelius was once the most powerful man on earth- a Roman Emperor. ‘Meditations’ reveals ‘The Philosopher’; a king concerned with being a good man. Including quotes from Meditations.

Temperance bearing an hourglass; detail Lorenzetti's Allegory of Good Government, 1338
Exploring Philosophy, Virtue

A Tale of Temperance

In recent history, the virtue of temperance has been associated with strict asceticism. A joyless lifestyle, filled with self-deprivation and suppression. But temperance was never meant to be an extreme. When we look further back in time, we find its essence and purpose. Quotes from Aristotle, Aquinas, Seneca & more.