English is an oddly charming language. In essence our entire lexicon for abstract thinking stems from borrowed words, directly and indirectly with little conjugation, largely from arcane and entirely dead languages. The result is that a word like “magnanimity”, has little correlation to the rest of the language. You either deduce its meaning from context or look it up. So, along these lines, uncovering the etymology of terms can present an engaging exercise which often divulges a deeper, yet erstwhile meaning.
The word we’ll be investigating today is ‘virtue’. Its meaning has broadened since adoption by the English language. It originally came from the Latin “virtus” but has come to encompass anything that is aligned with ‘good’ and antithetical to ‘bad’ e.g. the ‘Seven Virtues of Catholicism’. This use of the word would have us think virtue represents any and all admirable qualities. To the Romans however, virtue existed alongside beneficence, dignity, honor, probity, and many other qualities we refer to today as virtues.
So what, then, did the Roman’s mean by virtus? We may begin to answer by understanding the root of the word, namely “vir”. Vir simply means ‘male‘. As such, the direct translation of virtus is manliness, with the suffix -tus corresponding to the English “-ness”. Therefrom we derive our meaning of virtue: utter masculinity, existing in contrast to those qualities considered infantile and effeminate. Virtue is not humility, it is conviction; not sympathy but camaraderie, not deference but domination. The virtue of masculinity directs us to say what we believe, to take responsibility for ourselves, and to persevere despite adversity. It clamors that we not stand still but move forward. It commands that we supercede levity with gravity. It charges us to be brave, not out of fearlessness, but because inspite of our fears we remain resolved. It is the wellhead from which springs the desire to accomplish and the aversion to wallow.
Labienus, one of Julius Caesar’s lieutenants, said to his men on the eve of a crucial battle:
“Display to us, your leaders, the same virtue you have ofttimes displayed to your general: imagine that he is present and actually sees these exploits.” (eng: The Gallic Wars – Julius Caesar, VI.viii)
“praestate eandem nobis ducibus virtutem, quam saepe numero imperatori praestitistis, atque illum adesse et haec coram cernere existimate.” (ltn.)
I exhort you to act with this same manliness, with virtue, in all that you do. Imagine the men you admire are ever-present and act as witness to all of your deeds.
Avete atque valete
-Arius
autoanathema 