The Cardinal Virtues

There are four principal moral virtues. On these theother virtues depend as a door depends on its hinges. And indeed the name cardinal virtues means hinge virtues; for the Latin cardines means hinges. The cardinal moral virtues are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. Prudence, indeed,is really an intellectual virtue, for it is the habitual knowledge of how to act rightly. But prudence is so intimately bound up with will-action that all moral virtues require its direction. Therefore, by reason of association and service, prudence is commonly listed with the moral virtues.

St. Gregory (Moral. ii) says that the whole structure of good works is built upon the four cardinal virtues. Virtues direct good deeds and good lives. Now good is in the reason by the virtue of prudence; it is carried into operation bythe virtue of justice; it directs the passions of the soul by fortitude, and curbs them from excess by temperance.

The four cardinal virtues cover the ground of moral virtue. All other moral virtues are subordinate to these four.

The cardinal virtues are distinct habits, each with its own determinate area of application. These virtues are not merely four phases of one master virtue.

The cardinal virtues may be called social virtues inasmuch as man requires them for living rightly in human society. They may be called perfecting virtuesinasmuch as they help man to perfect his character and attain his end. They may be called perfect virtues since they are always found in perfected human nature. Finally, they may be called exemplar virtues, for they are the model or exemplar upon which human conduct is to be patterned; besides, the perfection which they involve is found eminently in God, man’s divineexemplar.