virtues

Part of my growing up included working in my dad’s drugstore. As I grew older, I began to strategize ways to increase sales. I learned about the reality of impulse buying and proceeded to surround the check-out area with impulse items such as gum, disposable lighters, snack bars, breath fresheners, travel-size beauty items and sundries, and so on. The truth is, we do a lot of things on impulse, which means that we act without […]

Our brains are wired to take the path of least resistance. Now, that can be a good thing, since we all strive to avoid unnecessary conflicts and obstacles. However, there are some things in life that are worth fighting for, such as striving to end injustice and oppression. For situations like that, we need the virtue of fortitude—a virtue that helps us strengthen our resolve, resist temptations, and overcome obstacles in the moral life. In […]

“What were you thinking?” Many of us have been on the receiving end of this question, most likely when we were children and our parents asked us this question after we had done something stupid. The question assumes the answer: “You obviously were not thinking!” Prudence is the habit of thinking before acting. This flies in the face of today’s mentality of “Just do it!” While there is something to be said for spontaneity, some […]