Monday, November 07, 2011

Virtue and Its Recognition

As the Philosopher says (Ethic. i.5), honor is not that reward of virtue, for which the virtuous work: but they receive honor from men by way of reward, "as from those who have nothing greater to offer." But virtue's true reward is happiness itself, for which the virtuous work: whereas if they worked for honor, it would no longer be a virtue, but ambition.

Thomas Aquinas, ST 2-1.2.1 ad 1.