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About this quote

What does it mean?
Virtue calculated for effect lacks authenticity.
In plain terms
Calculated goodness is not real virtue.
What can you take from it?
Be good because you are, not for show.

Where it applies

  • leadership
  • ethics
  • personal conduct

Putting it to work

  • act sincerely
  • avoid performance
  • check motives

Questions to consider

  • Is calculated virtue useless?
  • How do you show goodness?

Another view

Sometimes calculation precedes genuine habit.

More from Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

  1. He who is enamored of himself will at least have the advantage of being inconvenienced by few rivals.

    Permalink to quote #82
  2. With prophecies the commentator is often a more important man than the prophet.

    Permalink to quote #84
  3. The most dangerous untruths are truths moderately distorted.

    Permalink to quote #81

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