There is a set of religious or rather moral writings which teach that virtue is the certain road to happiness and vice to misery in this world. A very wholesome and comfortable doctrine and to which we have but one objection namely that it is not true.

To desire and strive to be of some service to the world to aim at doing something which shall really increase the happiness and welfare and virtue of mankind - this is a choice which is possible for all of us and surely it is a good haven to sail for.

Happiness is secured through virtue it is a good attained by man's own will.

Suspicion is not less an enemy to virtue than to happiness he that is already corrupt is naturally suspicious and he that becomes suspicious will quickly be corrupt.

The founders of a new colony whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetery and another portion as the site of a prison.

Happiness lies neither in vice nor in virtue but in the manner we appreciate the one and the other and the choice we make pursuant to our individual organization.

If virtue promises happiness prosperity and peace then progress in virtue is progress in each of these for to whatever point the perfection of anything brings us progress is always an approach toward it.

There is no austerity equal to a balanced mind and there is no happiness equal to contentment there is no disease like covetousness and no virtue like mercy.

Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that but simply growth We are happy when we are growing.

Happiness is a virtue not its reward.