Emerson Assignment From Connell's 11H Class - Ramblings about Virture and Emerson

"Virtues are, in the popular estimate, rather the exception than the rule. There is the man *and* his virtues. Men do what is called a good action, as some piece of courage or charity, as much as they would pay a fine in expiation of daily nonappearance on parade. Their works are done as an apology or extenuation of their living in the world - as invalids and the insane pay a high board. Their virtues are penances."
- Emerson in “Self Reliance”

Virtue is defined as the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong; a particular moral excellence. In my opinion, the second definition is much more accurate; however, Emerson addresses both definitions here.

Sadly, true virtue, that particular moral excellence, has become the exception and not the rule in our society. One can discern that to find a truly virtuous friend is to uncover a precious stone. Virtue is few and far between in the selfish and competitive society that has become our lives. People that are in essence “good” are ridiculed and questioned. Those who recognize “goodness” in a person tear them down and create suspicion around this person because goodness is somehow threatening to them. Goodness and virtue should be rewarded and honored, rather than hidden and scorned. Perhaps as more recognition arises that virtue has become the exception and not the rule, virtue will make its way back to the rule. Perhaps our society has hit rock bottom. However, at rock bottom, there are two ways to go, not just one as most assume. In the words of Wynonna Judd (ha!): “When you hit rock bottom there are two ways to go: straight up, and sideways.” One can only hope that as society and humanity nears a rock bottom of virtue that we collectively move “straight up” rather than sideways. A fight for virtue to reassume the position of “rule” rather than “exception” is much needed and long overdue.

Emerson also speaks about another kind of virtue, the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. This “avoiding what is wrong” is the problem. Virtue, to me at least, is finding a way to always do the right thing. Virtue is not a multiple choice question in which you use process of elimination to choose the right answer. Virtue is knowing the right answer, or searching for it, rather than merely not choosing the wrong answer. Simply put: virtue is CHOOSING, while “avoiding doing wrong” is NOT CHOOSING. Virtue chooses the right thing, while “avoiding doing wrong” is not choosing the wrong thing. Catch my drift? When virtue has become a “penance”, a requirement, a debt to pay off, a negation of some former wrongdoing, or a show in the public eye, virtue is gone. “Good action” with incorrect motives is not longer virtuous. This is what Emerson is addressing here. Virtue is good action with pure motives. Good action with impure, incorrect, selfish (etc!) motives is simply action. Virtue brings us back to the old tests of character: “Who are you when no one is watching?” and “What would you do if no one else was around?” True virtue requires integrity, strength of character, and self-confidence, while this second kind of virtue (the “staying just out of trouble” kind of virtue) only requires cunning and slight moral instinct.


Emerson’s statement, “There is man *and* his virtues,” makes a particular impact on me. I take this statement to mean that man needs to be virtuous. At least, I feel that man should not exist without his virtues. In the home in which I have been raised there are a few qualities that are to be praised above all others. These include religious devotion, integrity, respect, reason, responsibility, good stewardship, and a couple others. This integrity is where virtue obviously comes in. However, all of these things can be considered virtues. Each quality in itself is another virtue which one could, and should in my opinion, possess. As a small girl, these values/virtues became imprinted upon my heart. One instance which I remember particularly clearly was a Christmas when I was six or seven. All the gifts had been unwrapped but three small boxes. In these boxes, my father had designed a gift for his three girls – my mother, my sister, and I – that would remind us forever of these virtues that are so highly valued in the “Stewart Clan” (yes, we have the Stewart plaid and a clan/family crest… haha). These gifts were beautiful gold necklaces made from melted down gold coins that my grandfather had given my father shortly before his death. These necklaces are made up of various symbols that represent virtues that my father, and his father, wished for his family to have. At the top, there is a cross, for Christ should be first in our lives. There is also a Hopi Indian symbol, which means “Walk lightly upon the earth”, representing the quality of good stewardship. There is also a design that is a paned square that has letters etched in it, representing the “3 R’s” and the other qualities.

Virtue and integrity are among two of the most admirable qualities a person can have. Virtue however becomes dangerous when it becomes “doing right and avoiding wrong.” True virtue is moral excellence.

In the school upon the hill, since we are “uncommon” and are to embody “excellence with honor”, how hard is this? To transfer excellence with honor to moral excellence? Shouldn’t we have assumed this quality already since we are to be perfect examples to our fellow academic institutions? Where is virtue on such and “uncommonly excellent” campus? (sarcasm..)

Seriously though, virtue is important, and to find it easily in this world is a true and rare gift. Virtue itself is a true and rare gift. To be virtuous is to be the most honorable man one can be. Virtue, virtue, virtue… virtuous… virtue… hmm…