In the Christian church, there are four cardinal virtues. These are prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice. These were derived initially from Plato's scheme and were adapted by Saint Ambrose, Augustine of Hippo, and Thomas Aquinas.

These "cardinal" virtues are not the same as the trinity of "theological virtues" of faith, hope, and charity. Together, they comprise what is known as the Heavenly Virtues or sometimes the Seven Cardinal Virtues.

History of the Virtues

While history suggests that the first four date back to Greek philosophers and were applicable to all people seeking to live moral lives, the theological virtues appear to be specific to Christians as written by Paul in The New Testament.

In Genesis, Chapter 28 Jacob describes his vision of a ladder or stairway leading to heaven. In oral tradition, the three principle rungs on the ladder were denominated Faith, Hope and Love. (The King James Version of the Bible uses "charity," but "charity" was derived from caritas, or "love.") These three are mentioned in Chapter 13 of First Corinthians: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

The cardinal virtues are distinguished from the capital virtues. The capital virtues are often paired with the much more widely known capital (or "deadly") sins. The capital virtues are: humility, liberality, brotherly love, meekness, chastity, temperance, and diligence. The capital sins, sometimes called the "seven deadly sins," are pride, avarice (greed), envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth.

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Cardinal Virtues

Capital Virtues

Seven Virtues