If you happened to read my last newsletter, you might’ve noticed how I mentioned I’m now reading The Art Of Living by Edward Sri (and still am).

To give you a brief summary, it’s about the Cardinal Virtues and how to harness them in your everyday life to create a closer connection to God and those around you.

Just the other day, I reached a part of the book where Edward mentioned what he believes is the most significant virtue—Prudence, or Wisdom.

And we’re not talking just regular knowledge; Prudence is the virtue of knowing what’s right and wrong. To know what decision is right and to recognize what we should avoid. It’s not just a virtue, but a way we should live our life.

But I don’t know if I’d go as far as saying it’s the most important virtue.

When I first read it, I immediately thought of how Marcus Aurelius believed Justice is the “mother” of all virtues. It’s the virtue that defines how you should treat others justly and fairly, commit to charity, and live life honestly with the habit of putting God first.

As a Roman Emperor, I could see why he believed this was the most important virtue as it’s the one that makes the most sense for a leader to uphold.

Having a leader that treats people fairly, is honest, and reminds not only himself to follow God, but his empire, is what made him one of the Five Good Emperors of Rome.

But as I thought about it more, it was the most important virtue for him. As is Prudence is the most important virtue for a lot of Christians and Catholics. And as I kept reading, I realized it’s not about which is the most important, because that insinuates favoritism. It implies that there is a virtue you should focus on more above the others. When in reality, all of them go hand in hand and are equally capable of helping you live a divine life.

I think it all boils down to this: what do you need to work on?

Do you struggle with self-control? Look into the virtue of Temperance.

Do you find yourself being selfish at times and even see yourself straying away from God? Study Justice.

Do you struggle with making the right decisions? Study the virtue of Prudence.

Or maybe you’ve been afraid of taking a big step in life. Well in that case, look into Courage.

Don’t go through life wondering which one you should focus all your energy to just because it’s the best (as I’ve been doing). Think about what you need, not about what others say you do.

So choose your own favorite virtue. And the best part is, it only takes one to change your life.

Until next time,
Isaiah Taylor

Dive Deeper 

What I’m Currently Reading - I’m still in the middle of reading The Art Of Living by Edward Sri. A book that discovers the virtues needed to give the best of yourself to God and the people in our lives.

Quote Of The Week - “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” — Jimmy Johnson