cardinal virtues

British  

plural noun

1. the most important moral qualities, traditionally justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude

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Example Sentences

Strip away the Crunchwraps, the Big Macs, the PlayPlaces, the sentient taste buds and the nihilistic Facebook feeds and you're left with American fast-food's three cardinal virtues: profitability, uniformity and automation.

From Salon • Aug. 22, 2023

Belying his stern image, his first encyclical, the most authoritative form of papal writing, centered on love, one of three treatises he planned to write on the cardinal virtues of love, hope and faith.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2022

But thoroughness and transparency, in lesser matters as well as these of life and death, are cardinal virtues regardless.

From Washington Times • Aug. 13, 2018

There was, of course, the union of three in the Holy Trinity, four cardinal virtues, five wounds delivered to Christ, seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and 39 names for Jesus Christ.

From Washington Post • Nov. 11, 2016

Every one suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.

From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald