“…only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.” -Benjamin Franklin

“Trying to become virtuous merely by excluding vice, however, is as unrealistic as trying to cultivate roses solely by eliminating weeds.” -Donald DeMarco

If virtue is what enables are freedom of self-governance it must not be taken for granted. We need to understand virtues, acquire, and develop them, but where do virtues come from?

This question has been asked by history’s greatest theologians and philosophers. Aristotle used the word hexis to describe moral virtue. Moral virtue is derived from action. Virtues can be passed down from family and cultures if children are taught to habitually embrace them.

How much do we really know about virtues and how often do we seek to understand and practice them?