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December 16, 2007

virtue is enough

It is told of Brutus, that when he fell on his sword, after the battle of Philippi, he quoted a line of Euripides, -- "O virtue! I have followed thee through life, and I find thee at last but a shade." I doubt not the hero is slandered by this report. The heroic soul does not sell its justice and its nobleness. It does not ask to dine nicely, and to sleep warm. The essence of greatness is the perception that virtue is enough. Poverty is its ornament. It does not need plenty, and can very well abide its loss.


Emerson - Heroism

Posted by amin at December 16, 2007 5:23 PM