Are There Only 7 Virtues? The Truth Might Surprise You
What Are the Famous “7 Virtues” Anyway?
The classical list: a quick refresher
When people talk about the seven virtues, they’re usually referring to a combo of the four cardinal virtues (from ancient philosophy) and the three theological virtues (from Christian doctrine).
Here’s the standard breakdown:
Cardinal virtues (from Plato & Aristotle, later adopted by the Church):
Prudence
Justice
Fortitude
Temperance
Theological virtues (from the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13):
Faith
Hope
Charity (or love)
Total? Yep. That’s seven. And for centuries, that number has been treated almost like it’s carved in stone.
But hold on a sec… is that really all there is?
Are virtues limited to just seven?
Philosophically? Not even close
Different cultures and traditions have listed dozens of virtues. Think about it—things like honesty, humility, gratitude, generosity, patience… These are all considered virtues too, right?
Take the Stoics, for example. They emphasized wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance too, sure—but also spoke of integrity, modesty, and reason.
In Buddhism, you’ve got the Paramitas—six or ten “perfections” like compassion, mindfulness, and perseverance.
So nope, the number seven isn’t a universal rule. It’s more of a neat framework than an actual limit.
Cultural context matters
In medieval Europe, listing “seven virtues” was kinda like listing “seven deadly sins.” It helped structure moral teachings in sermons and books. It worked well with symbolism—7 days of the week, 7 sacraments, 7 heavens, etc.
But in daily life, people clearly valued way more qualities than just seven. I mean… imagine telling someone, “Kindness isn’t on the list, so technically it doesn’t count.” Yeah, good luck with that.
Modern views: Are we expanding the list?
Psychology joins the chat
Enter positive psychology, which doesn’t stop at seven. The VIA Classification of Character Strengths identifies 24 strengths, grouped under six broad virtues like:
Wisdom
Courage
Humanity
Justice
Temperance
Transcendence
Now that’s more like it, right? A little messy, maybe. But closer to real life. (Because let's be honest—life doesn’t always fit neatly into a tidy list.)
And in schools, workplaces, even parenting
These days, schools teach character traits like grit, empathy, and resilience. Workplaces value creativity, collaboration, adaptability. Are those “virtues”? Depends who you ask—but most would say yes.
Honestly, I used to think only those original seven were “real” virtues. Then I met a teacher who said, “Forgiveness isn’t on the old list, but it saved my marriage.” That kinda changed how I saw things.
So why do people still talk about “the seven”?
Because it's memorable
It’s like the “big five” personality traits. Or the “12 zodiac signs.” People love tidy frameworks. They're easier to teach, remember, argue about... and yeah, sometimes oversimplify.
The seven virtues offer a strong historical backbone—but they don’t pretend to be a full catalog.
Final thoughts: Seven is a start, not the whole story
So—are there only 7 virtues? Nah. Not even close.
The classic seven are powerful, yes. But the human experience is way more layered than that. Virtues grow, shift, expand. Sometimes they even contradict each other (looking at you, honesty vs. kindness).
Bottom line? Think of the seven as your starter pack. The rest? You build as you go.
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Is 172 cm good for a man?
Yes it is. Average height of male in India is 166.3 cm (i.e. 5 ft 5.5 inches) while for female it is 152.6 cm (i.e. 5 ft) approximately. So, as far as your question is concerned, aforesaid height is above average in both cases.
Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?
The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.
Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?
How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).
How tall is a average 15 year old?
Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years
| Male Teens: 13 - 20 Years) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 14 Years | 112.0 lb. (50.8 kg) | 64.5" (163.8 cm) |
| 15 Years | 123.5 lb. (56.02 kg) | 67.0" (170.1 cm) |
| 16 Years | 134.0 lb. (60.78 kg) | 68.3" (173.4 cm) |
| 17 Years | 142.0 lb. (64.41 kg) | 69.0" (175.2 cm) |
How to get taller at 18?
Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.
Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?
Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).
Can you grow between 16 and 18?
Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.
Can you grow 1 cm after 17?
Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.