We are double-edged blades, and every time we whet our virtue the return stroke straps our vice.

We are double-edged blades, and every time we whet our virtue the return stroke straps our vice.

Vices of the time; vices of the man.
[Lat., Vitia temporis; vitia hominis.]

Vices of the time; vices of the man.
[Lat., Vitia temporis; vitia hominis.]

The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to plague us.

The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to plague us.

Many without punishment, none without sin.

Many without punishment, none without sin.

We do not despise all those who have vices, but we despise all
those who have not a single read more

We do not despise all those who have vices, but we despise all
those who have not a single virtue.

Virtue, I grant you, is an empty boast;
But shall the dignity of vice be lost?

Virtue, I grant you, is an empty boast;
But shall the dignity of vice be lost?

We make a ladder for ourselves of our vices, if we trample those
same vices underfoot.
[Lat., De read more

We make a ladder for ourselves of our vices, if we trample those
same vices underfoot.
[Lat., De vitiis nostris scalam nobis facimus, si vitia ipsa
calcamus.]

And last the Vice and Follies of the Age.

And last the Vice and Follies of the Age.

The worst vice of a fanatic is his sincerity.

The worst vice of a fanatic is his sincerity.