"A man's indebtedness is not virtue; his repayment is. Virtue begins when he dedicates himself actively to the job of gratitude"
- Ruth Benedict
About this Quote
This quote by Ruth Benedict talks to the idea that just being indebted to somebody is inadequate to be considered virtuous. Virtue is only accomplished when one actively works to repay their debt. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for life in basic, as we are all indebted to those who have assisted us in some way. To be virtuous, we need to actively work to show our thankfulness for the assistance we have actually received. This could be done through acts of compassion, offering, or merely expressing our appreciation. Eventually, it is through actively committing ourselves to the job of appreciation that we can attain real virtue.
This quote is written / told by Ruth Benedict between June 5, 1887 and September 17, 1948. She was a famous Scientist from USA.
The author also have 14 other quotes.
"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us"
"If future generations are to remember us more with gratitude than sorrow, we must achieve more than just the miracles of technology. We must also leave them a glimpse of the world as it was created, not just as it looked when we got through with it"
"There are minds so impatient of inferiority that their gratitude is a species of revenge, and they return benefits, not because recompense is a pleasure, but because obligation is a pain"
