In Praise of Virtue

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In the present stages of spiritual experience, the believer's interior comfort, and his exterior lustre, greatly depend on the position of his heart toward the uncreated sun of righteousness. How obscure and benighted are our views, and how languid our exercise of grace, when an unbelieving, a worldly, or a careless spirit, interrupts our walk with God! But, if the out-goings of our souls are to him, and if the in-pourings of his blessed influence be felt, we glow, we kindle, we burn, we shine.

Augustus M. Toplady (d. 1778)

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Most of people's activities are valueless, if not downright destructive. Dominated by desire and fear, ceasing to do evil precedes beginning to do good. Hence the need for stopping all activities for a time, to investigate one's urges and their motives.

Nisargadatta (d. 1981)

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I have known a vast quantity of nonsense talked about bad men not looking you in the face.
Don't trust that idea.
Dishonesty will stare honesty out of countenance any day in the week, if there is anything to be got by it.

Dickens

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The Voice of Christ

I taught the prophets from the beginning, and even to this day I continue to speak to
all men. But many are hardened. Many are deaf to My voice. Most men listen more willingly
to the world than to God. They are more ready to follow the appetite of their flesh than the
good pleasure of God. The world, which promises small and passing things, is served with
great eagerness: I promise great and eternal things and the hearts of men grow dull. Who
is there that serves and obeys Me in all things with as great care as that with which the world
and its masters are served?

"Be thou ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea speaketh." [Isa. 23:4] And if you ask why, listen to the
cause: for a small gain they travel far; for eternal life many will scarcely lift a foot from the
ground. They seek a petty reward, and sometimes fight shamefully in law courts for a single
piece of money. They are not afraid to work day and night for a trifle or an empty promise.
But, for an unchanging good, for a reward beyond estimate, for the greatest honor and for
glory everlasting, it must be said to their shame that men begrudge even the least fatigue.
Be ashamed, then, lazy and complaining servant, that they should be found more eager for
perdition than you are for life, that they rejoice more in vanity than you in truth.

Sometimes indeed their expectations fail them, but My promise never deceives, nor
does it send away empty-handed him who trusts in Me. What I have promised I will give.
What I have said I will fulfill, if only a man remain faithful in My love to the end. I am the
rewarder of all the good, the strong approver of all who are devoted to Me.

Write My words in your heart and meditate on them earnestly, for in time of temptation
they will be very necessary. What you do not understand when you read, you will learn in
the day of visitation. I am wont to visit My elect in two ways—by temptation and by consolation.
To them I read two lessons daily—one reproving their vices, the other exhorting them
to progress in virtue. He who has My words and despises them has that which shall condemn
him on the last day.

From Book III, Imitation of Christ

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For to say "Look to God" is not helpful without some instruction as to what this looking imports: it might very well be said that one can "look" and still sacrifice no pleasure, still be the slave of impulse, repeating the word God but held in the grip of every passion and making no effort to master any. Virtue, advancing towards the Term and, linked with thought, occupying a Soul makes God manifest: God on the lips, without a good conduct of life, is a word.

Plotinus Enneads 2.9.15

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I would advise all in general, that they would take into serious consideration the true and genuine ends of knowledge; that they seek it not either for pleasure, or contention, or contempt of others, or for profit, or fame, or for honour and promotion, or such-like adulterate or inferior ends; but for merit and emolument of life, that they may regulate and perfect the same in charity.

Francis Bacon

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That which is primarily good, and which is no other than The Good itself, is superior to all things which in any way whatever participate of good.

Proclus, Elements 8

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Good advice for spiritual living...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j93amygUWM

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Man is unjust, but God is just; and finally justice triumphs.

Longfellow.

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True law is right reason in agreement with nature; it is of universal application, unchanging and everlasting; it summons to duty by its commands, and averts from wrong-doing by its prohibitions. And it does not lay its commands or prohibitions upon good men in vain, though neither have any effect on the wicked.
It is a sin to try to alter this law, nor is it allowable to attempt to repeal any part of it, and it is impossible to abolish it entirely. We cannot be freed from its obligations by senate or people, and we need not look outside ourselves for an expounder or interpreter of it. And there will not be different laws at Rome and at Athens, or different laws now and in the future, but one eternal and unchangeable law will be valid for all nations and all times, and there will be one master and ruler, that is, God, over us all, for he is the author of this law, its promulgator, and its enforcing judge.
Whoever is disobedient is fleeing from himself and denying his human nature, and by reason of this very fact he will suffer the worst penalties, even if he escapes what is commonly considered punishment.

Cicero

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When a wise person has acquired great wealth, he makes himself happy and pleased. He makes his mother and father, spouse and children, servants, workers, staff, friends and relatives happy and pleased. He gives gifts to monks and nuns. He collects merit in order to be reborn in heaven. Because he makes proper use of his wealth, rulers or thieves don't take it, fire doesn't burn it, floods don't sweep it away, and enemies don't take it. Since his wealth is properly utilized, it's used, not wasted.

Buddha, Aputtaka Sutta

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Buddha, Aputtaka Sutta

So what your saying he was not a Dem.