Value vs. Virtue: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Published on November 23, 2023
"Value" refers to the importance, worth, or usefulness of something, while "Virtue" is a quality deemed morally good or desirable in a person.
Key Differences
"Value" represents the significance or worth of something, often determined by societal, cultural, or personal standards. "Virtue," however, specifically pertains to moral excellence, righteousness, and goodness, often inherent within an individual's character.
"Value" can apply to tangible items, like goods or money, and intangible concepts like beliefs or principles. "Virtue" solely refers to intangible moral qualities that guide behavior and character, independent of physical possessions or societal status.
"Value" is versatile, changing with context, potentially representing different meanings in economics, culture, or personal belief systems. Conversely, "Virtue" maintains consistency, always relating to moral principles and character strengths.
"Value" often requires a point of reference, like cultural norms or personal experiences, for its definition and relevance. In contrast, "Virtue" is considered more universal, recognized across various cultures and societies as markers of moral excellence.
"Value" may be subjective, varying greatly among individuals, societies, and cultures, based on education, experience, and tradition. "Virtue," however, is generally more objective, grounded in ethical theories and philosophical teachings about morality.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Importance, worth, or usefulness of something
Quality deemed morally good in a person
Application
Tangible and intangible
Strictly intangible
Context Dependency
Subjective and varies
Generally consistent and universal
Basis
Cultural, societal, personal standards
Moral principles and ethical philosophy
Scope
Broader, encompassing various aspects of life
Narrower, focused on moral and ethical characteristics
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Value and Virtue Definitions
Value
The regard that something is held to deserve.
The value of kindness cannot be overstated.
Virtue
A quality considered morally good or desirable in a person.
Patience is a virtue.
Value
The importance or preciousness of something.
She understands the value of time.
Virtue
Behavior showing high moral standards.
Her virtue was evident through her volunteer work.
Value
The material or monetary worth of something.
The value of the house has increased over the years.
Virtue
A particular form of goodness.
The virtue of bravery is celebrated in many cultures.
Value
A person's principles or standards of behavior.
Honesty is a core value for him.
Virtue
Conformity to a standard of right.
He led his life with virtue.
Value
An amount, as of goods, services, or money, considered to be a fair and suitable equivalent for something else; a fair price or return.
Virtue
Moral excellence and righteousness; goodness.
Value
Monetary or material worth
The fluctuating value of gold and silver.
Virtue
An example or kind of moral excellence
The virtue of patience.
Value
Worth in usefulness or importance to the possessor; utility or merit
The value of an education.
Virtue
(Archaic) Chastity, especially in a woman.
Value
Often values A principle or standard, as of behavior, that is considered important or desirable
"The speech was a summons back to the patrician values of restraint and responsibility" (Jonathan Alter).
Virtue
A particularly efficacious, good, or beneficial quality; advantage
A plan with the virtue of being practical.
Value
Precise meaning or import, as of a word.
Virtue
Effective force or power
Believed in the virtue of prayer.
Value
(Mathematics) A quantity or number expressed by an algebraic term.
Virtue
Virtues(Christianity) The fifth of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology.
Value
(Music) The relative duration of a tone or rest.
Virtue
(Obsolete) Manly courage; valor.
Value
The relative darkness or lightness of a color. See Table at color.
Virtue
(uncountable) Accordance with moral principles; conformity of behaviour or thought with the strictures of morality; good moral conduct.
Without virtue, there is no freedom.
Value
(Linguistics) The sound quality of a letter or diphthong.
Virtue
A particular manifestation of moral excellence in a person; an admirable quality.
Value
One of a series of specified values
Issued a stamp of new value.
Virtue
Specifically, each of several qualities held to be particularly important, including the four cardinal virtues, the three theological virtues, or the seven virtues opposed to the seven deadly sins.
Value
To determine or estimate the worth or value of; appraise.
Virtue
An inherently advantageous or excellent quality of something or someone; a favourable point, an advantage.
Value
To regard highly; esteem
I value your advice.
Virtue
A creature embodying divine power, specifically one of the orders of heavenly beings, traditionally ranked above angels and below archangels.
Value
To rate according to relative estimate of worth or desirability; evaluate
Valued health above money.
Virtue
(uncountable) Specifically, moral conduct in sexual behaviour, especially of women; chastity.
Value
To assign a value to (a unit of currency, for example).
Virtue
(obsolete) The inherent power of a god, or other supernatural being.
Value
Of or relating to the practice of investing in individual securities that, according to some fundamental measure, such as book value, appear to be relatively less expensive than comparable securities.
Virtue
The inherent power or efficacy of something now only in phrases.
Value
Relating to or consisting of principles or standards
A value system.
Virtue
Manly strength or courage; bravery; daring; spirit; valor.
Built too strongFor force or virtue ever to expugn.
Value
The quality (positive or negative) that renders something desirable or valuable.
The Shakespearean Shylock is of dubious value in the modern world.
Virtue
Active quality or power; capacity or power adequate to the production of a given effect; energy; strength; potency; efficacy; as, the virtue of a medicine.
Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about.
A man was driven to depend for his security against misunderstanding, upon the pure virtue of his syntax.
The virtue of his midnight agony.
Value
(uncountable) The degree of importance given to something.
The value of my children's happiness is second only to that of my wife.
Virtue
Energy or influence operating without contact of the material or sensible substance.
She moves the body which she doth possess,Yet no part toucheth, but by virtue's touch.
Value
That which is valued or highly esteemed, such as one's morals, morality, or belief system.
He does not share his parents' values.
Family values
Virtue
Excellence; value; merit; meritoriousness; worth.
I made virtue of necessity.
In the Greek poets, . . . the economy of poems is better observed than in Terence, who thought the sole grace and virtue of their fable the sticking in of sentences.
Value
The amount (of money or goods or services) that is considered to be a fair equivalent for something else.
Virtue
Specifically, moral excellence; integrity of character; purity of soul; performance of duty.
Virtue only makes our bliss below.
If there's Power above us,And that there is all nature cries aloudThrough all her works, he must delight in virtue.
Value
(music) The relative duration of a musical note.
The value of a crotchet is twice that of a quaver.
Virtue
A particular moral excellence; as, the virtue of temperance, of charity, etc.
Value
(arts) The relative darkness or lightness of a color in (a specific area of) a painting etc.
Virtue
Specifically: Chastity; purity; especially, the chastity of women; virginity.
H. I believe the girl has virtue.M. And if she has, I should be the last man in the world to attempt to corrupt it.
Value
Any definite numerical quantity or other mathematical object, determined by being measured, computed, or otherwise defined.
The exact value of pi cannot be represented in decimal notation.
Virtue
One of the orders of the celestial hierarchy.
Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers.
Value
Precise meaning; import.
The value of a word; the value of a legal instrument
Virtue
The quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong
Value
(in the plural) The valuable ingredients to be obtained by treating a mass or compound; specifically, the precious metals contained in rock, gravel, etc.
The vein carries good values.
The values on the hanging walls
Virtue
Any admirable quality or attribute;
Work of great merit
Value
(obsolete) Esteem; regard.
Virtue
Morality with respect to sexual relations
Value
(obsolete) Valour; also spelled valew.
Virtue
A particular moral excellence
Value
To estimate the value of; judge the worth of something.
I will have the family jewels valued by a professional.
Virtue
A positive trait or quality deemed to be morally good.
Compassion is a virtue that can change the world.
Value
To fix or determine the value of; assign a value to, as of jewelry or art work.
Value
To regard highly; think much of; place importance upon.
Gold was valued highly among the Romans.
Value
To hold dear.
I value these old photographs.
Value
The property or aggregate properties of a thing by which it is rendered useful or desirable, or the degree of such property or sum of properties; worth; excellence; utility; importance.
Ye are all physicians of no value.
Ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Cæsar is well acquainted with your virtue,And therefore sets this value on your life.
Before events shall have decided on the value of the measures.
Value
Worth estimated by any standard of purchasing power, especially by the market price, or the amount of money agreed upon as an equivalent to the utility and cost of anything.
An article may be possessed of the highest degree of utility, or power to minister to our wants and enjoyments, and may be universally made use of, without possessing exchangeable value.
Value is the power to command commodities generally.
Value is the generic term which expresses power in exchange.
His design was not to pay him the value of his pictures, because they were above any price.
Value
Precise signification; import; as, the value of a word; the value of a legal instrument
Value
Esteem; regard.
My relation to the person was so near, and my value for him so great
Value
The relative length or duration of a tone or note, answering to quantity in prosody; thus, a quarter note [ ] has the value of two eighth notes [ ].
Value
In an artistical composition, the character of any one part in its relation to other parts and to the whole; - often used in the plural; as, the values are well given, or well maintained.
Value
Valor.
Value
That property of a color by which it is distinguished as bright or dark; luminosity.
Value
Any particular quantitative determination; as, a function's value for some special value of its argument.
Value
The valuable ingredients to be obtained by treatment from any mass or compound; specif., the precious metals contained in rock, gravel, or the like; as, the vein carries good values; the values on the hanging walls.
Value
To estimate the value, or worth, of; to rate at a certain price; to appraise; to reckon with respect to number, power, importance, etc.
The mind doth value every moment.
The queen is valued thirty thousand strong.
The king must take it ill,That he's so slightly valued in his messenger.
Neither of them valued their promises according to rules of honor or integrity.
Value
To rate highly; to have in high esteem; to hold in respect and estimation; to appreciate; to prize; as, to value one for his works or his virtues.
Which of the dukes he values most.
Value
To raise to estimation; to cause to have value, either real or apparent; to enhance in value.
Some value themselves to their country by jealousies of the crown.
Value
To be worth; to be equal to in value.
The peace between the French and us not valuesThe cost that did conclude it.
Value
A numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed;
The value assigned was 16 milliseconds
Value
The quality (positive or negative) that renders something desirable or valuable;
The Shakespearean Shylock is of dubious value in the modern world
Value
The amount (of money or goods or services) that is considered to be a fair equivalent for something else;
He tried to estimate the value of the produce at normal prices
Value
Relative darkness or lightness of a color;
I establish the colors and principal values by organizing the painting into three values--dark, medium...and light
Value
(music) the relative duration of a musical note
Value
An ideal accepted by some individual or group;
He has old-fashioned values
Value
Fix or determine the value of; assign a value to;
Value the jewelry and art work in the estate
Value
Hold dear;
I prize these old photographs
Value
Regard highly; think much of;
I respect his judgement
We prize his creativity
Value
Place a value on; judge the worth of something;
I will have the family jewels appraised by a professional
Value
Estimate the value of;
How would you rate his chances to become President?
Gold was rated highly among the Romans
Value
The usefulness, merit, or benefit of something.
The value of education is universally recognized.
FAQs
Can virtues change over time?
Core virtues are relatively stable, but their expressions or societal emphasis can evolve.
Can values conflict with virtues?
Yes, if someone values traits or outcomes that are not morally good, they conflict with virtues.
Can an action be valuable but not virtuous?
Yes, if it's beneficial or profitable but doesn't adhere to moral standards, it lacks virtue.
Is the value of something always evident?
No, value can be latent, emerging under specific circumstances or upon reflection.
Do all societies value the same virtues?
Many virtues are widely respected, but their prioritization or interpretation can vary by culture.
Are virtues universal?
Many virtues like honesty and courage are recognized across cultures, but interpretations and applications may vary.
Are all values subjective?
Largely, as values are influenced by personal experience, culture, and societal norms.
Can values be negative?
Yes, if they promote harmful behavior or negative outcomes, they're considered negative values.
Can one possess virtue but act without it?
Yes, individuals may not always act in accordance with their virtues due to various influences or circumstances.
Can something have value but lack virtue?
Yes, items can have economic or personal value without embodying moral goodness, which is virtue.
Are virtues innate or learned?
Virtues can be innate but are often cultivated through guidance, self-reflection, and practice.
Can values be measured?
Some values, especially economic ones, can be quantified, but many are intangible.
Is virtue always beneficial?
Generally, as it aligns with moral good, but it may lead to short-term challenges or sacrifices.
What defines a virtue?
Ethical philosophy, religious principles, and societal consensus often define virtue.
Are personal and societal values always aligned?
Not necessarily; individual experiences can shape values differently from societal norms.
Do virtues guarantee ethical actions?
They incline individuals towards ethical actions, but don't guarantee them due to complex human behavior.
How do values affect decision-making?
They guide priorities and acceptable actions within personal or societal contexts.
Can an object have virtue?
No, virtue pertains to moral qualities, typically applicable only to sentient beings.
How are values formed?
Through upbringing, culture, personal experiences, and societal influences.
Are virtues absolute?
Some consider virtues absolute, while others believe in contextual morality.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
