Catholic Virtues

Virtues are human qualities and habits that help us to do good. They can be thought of as a healthy balance between unhealthy extremes or "vices." In the charts below, find the virtues in the green middle column, with extremes/vices on either side in gray.

For more information about virtues, search online or use these specific sources:

	Cardinal Virtues
Over-analysis	Prudence	Recklessness
Fixation that leads to paralysis or avoidance.	Ability to intentionally make good decisions.	Lack of caution and thoughtfulness. Impulsive.
Disproportionate punishment	Justice	Unfairness
Unduly punishing offenders in an attempt to be fair.	Ensuring fairness, with all receiving their rights and fair share.	Benefiting some over others, such as through selfishness and greed.
Presumptuousness	Fortitude	Cowardice
Overconfident and foolhardy, proceeding without good reason.	Courage to follow through when we are confident how to proceed.	Inability to act how we know we should, out of fear.
Rejection	Temperance	Overindulgence (Gluttony)
Setting overly restrictive limits and inability to enjoy God’s gifts.	Self-control and ability to set healthy limits.	Using, consuming, or acting without limits.

	Theological Virtues
Fundamentalism	Faith	Atheism/Agnosticism
A limiting literalism and belief that God is proven to exist.	Belief in God and what God revealed without proof.	Lack of belief in God and Revelation.
Idolatry	Hope	Despair
Putting trust in something that is not God or from God.	Trusting and desiring God and God’s Kingdom.	Discouragement and resignation that God will not come through.
Codependency	Charity	Greed
Supporting or enabling someone in an unhealthy manner.	Love of God and neighbor; generosity and sacrifice.	Selfishness and desire to fill only our own needs.

	Seven Heavenly Virtues
Sexual repression	Chastity	Lust
Inability to experience and express sexuality in a healthy way.	Living with integrity and authenticity, especially sexually.	Disconnecting sexuality from love and relationship.
Rejection	Temperance	Overindulgence (Gluttony)
Setting overly restrictive limits and inability to enjoy God’s gifts.	Self-control and ability to set healthy limits.	Using, consuming, or acting without limits.
Codependency	Charity	Greed
Reliance on and support/enabling of someone in an unhealthy way.	Love of God and neighbor; generosity and sacrifice.	Selfishness and desire to fill only our own needs.
Workaholism	Diligence	Laziness (Sloth)
Inability to appropriately set limits on work.	Persistence and follow-through on important priorities.	Inability to prioritize and follow-through.
Endurance of abuse	Patience	Wrath
Tolerating physical, emotional, or other forms of abuse.	Enduring difficult circumstances, offering forgiveness and mercy.	A hostile or strong negative response to provocation.
Enabling	Kindness	Envy
Attempts to help that actually disempower, worsening a situation.	Compassion, or a desire for the best for others.	Jealousy that someone has something that we do not have.
Inferiority	Humility	Arrogance (Pride)
Low self-esteem and inability to see ourselves as God sees us.	Seeing our appropriate place in the world so we can treat others well.	Considering ourselves superior and overly important.