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58. Moral Virtues and Intellectual Virtues

1. A moral virtue is a will-virtue. It does not belong tothe order of speculative or practical intellect, but to the will,the appetitive part of reason. Moral virtue has to do, not withknowing, but with acting or choosing in the lightof knowledge.

2. An intellectual virtue belongs to the order ofknowing. Even the virtues of the practical intellect,which regard action, are truly intellectual virtues; they are notappetites or tendencies to action; they merely show the way toaction. And when, through prudence, they recommend or commandaction, they cannot enforce the command. They give knowledge ofwhat ought to be done. But the tendency, desire, and decision inthe matter belong to the will.

3. The distinction of virtues as intellectual virtues andmoral virtues is complete. This classification covers the wholefield. In last analysis every virtue is either an intellectualvirtue or a moral virtue.

4. The intellectual virtues of understanding and prudenceare required for every moral virtue.

5. And, on the other hand, the intellectual virtue ofprudence cannot exist unless moral virtue accompany it. Henceprudence is often listed as a moral virtue.

"The essence of perfection is to embrace the will of God in all things, prosperous or adverse. In prosperity, even sinners find it easy to unite themselves to the divine will; but it takes saints to unite themselves to God's will when things go wrong and are painful to self-love. Our conduct in such instances is the measure of our love of God."
St Alphonsus de Liguori

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"The more you know and the better you understand, the more severely will you be judged, unless your life is also the more holy. Do not be proud, therefore, because of your learning or skill. Rather, fear because of the talent given you."
Thomas á Kempis

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"Shun too great a desire for knowledge, for in it there is much fretting and delusion. Intellectuals like to appear learned and to be called wise. Yet there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the soul, and he who concerns himself about other things than those which lead to salvation is very unwise. "
Thomas á Kempis

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