I WAS 16 when I first learned what the word “virtuous” meant, and ever since then, I’ve tried to live a life that exhibits just that. To be virtuous means to be good or of moralities. A life of virtue can become a habit. The word “virtue” originated from the Latin root vir, for man. Initially, the word virtue meant manliness or valour.
It was similar to the expression of “man of character,” but eventually, the word became associated with a sense of moral excellence as time progressed. The Philosopher Socrates posits that virtue is a type of knowledge. It is the knowledge of knowing what is good and what is evil.

However, I believe being virtuous is beyond simply knowing what is good. It also means intentionally doing good. Sometimes, doing good may not always be pleasant for some people. In fact, the word “good” can also be very subjective. People associate it with different acts and meanings. However, there are universal acts of kindness that we can all relate to and do in our everyday lives, from intentionally looking out for random strangers in times of need to intentionally being an honest employee when working with cash. You can turn a virtuous lifestyle into a habit of always living by morals.

If I’m to be honest, the world is already filled with virtuous people, but it wouldn’t hurt to have many more. A simple Google search will list examples of virtues with descriptions such as humility, compassion, empathy, forgiveness or trust. If you’re intentionally looking to live a virtuous life, I would advise you to read more on what it means and the various types of virtues. There are many, as I only listed a few. You can start by actively understanding what each one means and which ones you’re comfortable with.

Based on our cultural experiences, our understanding of each virtue and our understanding of “goodness” will vary. However, the general concept to remember is to do good in everything you do. Strive for moral excellence in all aspects of your life. That’s it, and that’s all. In return, your acts of virtue will make the world a better place, and everyone around you, yourself included, can draw from this positivity.

It doesn’t mean you’ll do something just to simply do it because it’s the right thing to do. It also doesn’t mean you’ll do it without intention or a pure heart. To be virtuous also means being intentional and mindful of our acts. The Philosopher Aristotle best described what it means to be a virtuous person. He explained that, “To give money away is quite a simple task, but for the act to be virtuous, the donor must give to the right person, for the right purpose, in the right amount, in the right manner, in the right time”.