| What's Ben |
What's Verse |
Virtue & Corruption
see also BAD HABITS & REFORM (1), BEN'S 13 VIRTUES, CONSCIENCE & FUN, GOSSIP & REPUTATION, HEALTH, JUSTICE & COMEUPPANCE, MEMORY and VICE. |
| The Sun never repents of the good he does, nor does he ever demand a recompence. [1735] | Congress feted?
Bill belated. |
| Hast thou virtue? Acquire also the graces & beauties of virtue. [1738] | Ethics should shimmer,
Not boil or simmer. |
Sell not virtue to purchase
wealth, nor Liberty to
purchase power. [1738] | Soul's invoice:
Had your choice. |
| You may be more happy than Princes, if you will be more virtuous. [1738] | Happier if blameless,
Than barons when shameless. |
| Keep thou from Opportunity, and God will keep thee from Sin [1744] | Keep serpent next door?
(Says, “Eden’s a bore.”) |
| There is no Man so bad, but he secretly respects the Good. [1747] | Gargoyle admires
Heavenly spires. |
Strive to be the greatest Man in your Country, and you may be
disappointed; Strive to be the best, and you may succeed: He may well win the race that
runs by himself. [1747] | Leave callused behind
In race to be kind. |
What more valuable than
Gold? Diamonds. Than
Diamonds? Virtue. [1751] | What out-golds gold?
A soul unsold. |
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