Why virtues matter?

It seems like there’s a belief that virtue only shines through when faced with temptation. Some might even think that women should be sheltered from these challenges, assuming they might be too weak or inclined to vice. But let’s consider this: while it’s true that keeping someone in ignorance may protect them temporarily, it doesn’t nurture genuine virtue. Instead, real strength comes from understanding and overcoming challenges. Men and women alike possess the potential for goodness, and facing trials can actually strengthen our character.

This fragments talks about the ability in women to be educated in virtue, just as men, because human nature is natural to both sexes, what Charlotte Bronte talks about the virtuous women makes the readers of the tme realise what she has been talking about:

‘Well, but you affirm that virtue is only elicited by temptation;—and you think that a woman cannot be too little exposed to temptation, or too little acquainted with vice, or anything connected therewith. It must be either that you think she is essentially so vicious, or so feeble-minded, that she cannot withstand temptation,—and though she may be pure and innocent as long as she is kept in ignorance and restraint, yet, being destitute of real virtue, to teach her how to sin is at once to make her a sinner, and the greater her knowledge, the wider her liberty, the deeper will be her depravity,—whereas, in the nobler sex, there is a natural tendency to goodness, guarded by a superior fortitude, which, the more it is exercised by trials and dangers, is only the further developed—’… I would not send a poor girl into the world, unarmed against her foes, and ignorant of the snares that beset her path; nor would I watch and guard her, till, deprived of selfrespect and self-reliance, she lost the power or the will to watch and guard herself;—and as for my son—if I thought he would grow up to be what you call a man of the world—one that has “seen life,” and glories in his experience, even though he should so far profit by it as to sober down, at length, into a useful and respected member of society—I would rather that he died to-morrow!—rather a thousand times! … I would rather be lectured by you than the vicar, because I should have less remorse in telling you, at the end of the discourse, that I preserve my own opinion precisely the same as at the beginning—as would be the case, I am persuaded, with regard to either logician.’ … When a lady condescends to apologise, there is no keeping one’s anger, of course; so we parted good friends for once; and this time I squeezed her hand with a cordial, not a spiteful pressure…  What a good thing it is to be able to command one’s temper! I must labour to cultivate this inestimable quality: God only knows how often I shall need it in this rough, dark road that lies before me. «

Being virtuous can help us to show ourselves who we are and what we are capable of, instead of just going according to the social impressions.

We invite you to join our conversation! Let’s explore these ideas together and inspire each other towards growth and understanding. Feel free to reach out to us—we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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