Cardinal Virtues

Cardinal Virtues (Lat. cardinalis, 'chief,' from cardo, 'a hinge'). The cardinal virtues of the ancients were Justice, Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude; and were so called because the whole of human virtue was supposed to hinge or turn upon them. This mode of dividing the virtues is to be found as far back as Socrates, and these were regarded by the Catholic Church as the moral, in distinction from the theological virtues (Faith, Hope, Charity). But this classification into cardinal virtues is manifestly somewhat arbitrary; Whewell pointed out, for example, that it wholly omits the fundamental virtue of Benevolence. See ETHICS, SEVEN.