Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As to be hated need but to be seen;
read more

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As to be hated need but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.

Every vice makes its guilt the more conspicuous in proportion to
the rank of the offender.
[Lat., Omne read more

Every vice makes its guilt the more conspicuous in proportion to
the rank of the offender.
[Lat., Omne animi vitium tanto conspectius in se
Crimen habet, quanto major qui peccat habetur.]

We make a ladder for ourselves of our vices, if we trample those
same vices underfoot.
[Lat., De read more

We make a ladder for ourselves of our vices, if we trample those
same vices underfoot.
[Lat., De vitiis nostris scalam nobis facimus, si vitia ipsa
calcamus.]

Vice may be learnt, even without a teacher.

Vice may be learnt, even without a teacher.

We are double-edged blades, and every time we whet our virtue the return stroke straps our vice.

We are double-edged blades, and every time we whet our virtue the return stroke straps our vice.

One big vice in a man is apt to keep out a great many smaller ones.

One big vice in a man is apt to keep out a great many smaller ones.

Vice itself lost half its evil, by losing all its grossness.

Vice itself lost half its evil, by losing all its grossness.

He hadn't a single redeeming vice.

He hadn't a single redeeming vice.

Vice gets more in this vicious world
Than piety.

Vice gets more in this vicious world
Than piety.