The cardinal virtues are four: courage,
prudence, discreetness, and fairness. There are eight other moral states
that either go beyond or fall short of these virtues. Spiritual people
consider them as vices, but non-spiritual people consider them many
times as virtues. For courage going beyond is audacity while falling
short is timidity.
For prudence going beyond is deceitfulness while
falling short is ignorance. For discreetness going beyond is
licentiousness while falling short is foolishness. For fairness going
beyond is greed while falling short is inequity and injustice. The
virtues are in the middle, and not only the cardinal and natural, but
the ones who are superior of any exaggeration and shortcoming, the ones
that are also practical.
St. Gregory
the Sinaitis (from Philokalia and his 137 chapters On Commandments and
Doctrines, Warnings and Promises; on Thoughts, Passions and Virtues)
Translated by Dr. Nick Stergiou
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