Acceptance
1. favorable reception; approval; favor
2. the act of assenting or believing
source/more: Dictionary.com
Altruism
1. the principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others
source/more: Dictionary.com
Appreciation
1. gratitude; thankful recognition
2. clear perception or recognition, esp. of aesthetic quality
source/more: Dictionary.com
Assertiveness
1. confidently aggressive or self-assured; positive: aggressive; dogmatic
source/more: Dictionary.com
Autonomy
1. independence or freedom, as of the will or one's actions
source/more: Dictionary.com
Awareness
1. having knowledge; conscious; cognizant
2. informed; alert; knowledgeable; sophisticated
e.g.: he is one of the most politically aware young women around.
source/more: Dictionary.com
Balance
1. mental steadiness or emotional stability; habit of calm behavior, judgment, etc.
2. the power or ability to decide an outcome by throwing one's strength, influence, support, or the like, to one side or the other
source/more: Dictionary.com
Benevolence
1. desire to do good to others; goodwill; charitableness
2. an act of kindness; a charitable gift
source/more: Dictionary.com
Charity
1. generous actions or donations to aid the poor, ill, or helpless
2. something given to a person or persons in need; alms
3. benevolent feeling, esp. toward those in need or in disfavor
source/more: Dictionary.com
Chastity
1. The condition or quality of being pure or not engaging in sexual relations; celibate
source/more: Dictionary.com
Cleanliness
1. personally neat; careful to keep or make clean
2. free from dirt; unsoiled; unstained
3. characterized by a fresh, wholesome quality
source/more: Dictionary.com
Commitment
(hero: Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan)
1. the act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself.
2. a pledge or promise; obligation
3. engagement; involvement
e.g.: They have a sincere commitment to family.
source/more: Dictionary.com
Compassion
(hero: Clara Barton)
1. a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering
2. the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others
source/more: Dictionary.com
Confidence
(hero: Elizabeth Blackwell)
1. full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing
2. belief in oneself and one's powers or abilities; self-confidence; self-reliance; assurance
3. certitude; assurance
e.g.: We have every confidence in their ability to succeed.
or: He described the situation with such confidence that the audience believed him completely.
source/more: Dictionary.com
Consciousness
1. the state of being conscious; awareness of one's own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, etc.
2. ull activity of the mind and senses, as in waking life
3. concern, interest, or acute awareness
source/more: Dictionary.com
Consideration
source/more: Dictionary.com
Continence
source/more: Dictionary.com
Cooperation
(hero: Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey)
1. an act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit; joint action
2. more or less active assistance from a person, organization, etc.
e.g.: We sought the cooperation of various civic leaders.
source/more: Dictionary.com
Courage
(hero: Rosa Parks)
1. the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery
2. to act in accordance with one's beliefs, esp. in spite of criticism
source/more: Dictionary.com
Courteousness
source/more: Dictionary.com
Creativity
(hero: Walt Disney)
1. the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination
source/more: Dictionary.com
Critical Thinking
1. the mental process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to reach an answer or conclusion
source/more: Dictionary.com
Cunning
source/more: Dictionary.com
Curiosity
(hero: Lewis & Clark & Sacagawea)
1. the desire to learn or know about anything; inquisitiveness
2. eagerness to learn
source/more: Dictionary.com
Dependability
source/more: Dictionary.com
Detachment
source/more: Dictionary.com
Determination
(hero: Thomas Edison)
1. the act of coming to a decision or of fixing or settling a purpose
2. the quality of being resolute; firmness of purpose
3. a fixed purpose or intention
e.g.: t is my determination to be on time.
source/more: Dictionary.com
Diligence
source/more: Dictionary.com
Discipline
source/more: Dictionary.com
Empathy
source/more: Dictionary.com
Endurance
source/more: Dictionary.com
Enthusiasm
source/more: Dictionary.com
Excellence
source/more: Dictionary.com
Fairness
source/more: Dictionary.com
Faith
source/more: Dictionary.com
Fidelity
source/more: Dictionary.com
Flexibility
source/more: Dictionary.com
Focus
source/more: Dictionary.com
Foresight
(hero: John Muir)
1. care or provision for the future; provident care; prudence
2. an act of looking forward
source/more: Dictionary.com
Forgiveness
1. the act of excusing a mistake or offense
2. compassionate feelings that support a willingness to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.)
source/more: Dictionary.com
Fortitude
source/more: Dictionary.com
Free Will
source/more: Dictionary.com
Freedom
source/more: Dictionary.com
Friendship
(hero: Jane Addams)
1. the state of being a friend; association as friends
2. friendly feeling or disposition
3. friend = a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard
source/more: Dictionary.com
Generosity
(hero: Milton Hershey)
1. readiness or liberality in giving
2. freedom from meanness or smallness of mind or character
source/more: Dictionary.com
Happiness
source/more: Dictionary.com
Helpfulness
(hero: Roberto Clemente)
1. giving or rendering aid or assistance; of service
2. riendliness evidence by a kindly and helpful disposition
source/more: Dictionary.com
Honesty
(hero: Abraham Lincoln)
1. the quality or fact of being honest; uprightness and fairness
2. truthfulness, sincerity, or frankness
3. freedom from deceit or fraud
source/more: Dictionary.com
Honor
1. honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions
2. a source of credit or distinction
3. high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank
source/more: Dictionary.com
Hopefulness
1. a person who shows promise or aspires to success
source/more: Dictionary.com
Hospitality
1. the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers
2. the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way
source/more: Dictionary.com
Humility
(hero: Jonas Salk)
1. the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc.
2. a lack of false pride
source/more: Dictionary.com
Humor
1. to soothe or make content or more agreeable
source/more: Dictionary.com
Idealism
1. the cherishing or pursuit of high or noble principles, purposes, goals, etc.
source/more: Dictionary.com
Imagination
1. the faculty of producing ideal creations consistent with reality, as in literature, as distinct from the power of creating illustrative or decorative imagery
source/more: Dictionary.com
Impartiality
1. not partial or biased
2. fair; just
source/more: Dictionary.com
Independence
1. freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others
source/more: Dictionary.com
Innocence
1. freedom from legal or specific wrong; guiltlessness
2. simplicity; absence of guile or cunning; naiveté
3. harmlessness; innocuousness
source/more: Dictionary.com
Integrity
(hero: Harry S Truman)
1. adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty
source/more: Dictionary.com
Intuition
1. direct perception of truth, fact, etc., independent of any reasoning process; immediate apprehension
source/more: Dictionary.com
Inventiveness
source/more: Dictionary.com
Joy
1. the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation
2. the expression or display of glad feeling
3. to feel joy; be glad; rejoice
source/more: Dictionary.com
Justice
1. the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness
source/more: Dictionary.com
Kindness
(hero: Eleanor Roosevelt)
1. the state or quality of being kind (of a good or benevolent nature or disposition, as a person)
2. friendly feeling; liking
3. the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic
source/more: Dictionary.com
Love
(hero: Mary McLeod Bethune)
1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person
2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend
3. affectionate concern for the well-being of others
source/more: Dictionary.com
Loyalty
(hero: George C. Marshall)
1. the state or quality of being loyal; faithfulness to commitments or obligations
2. faithful adherence to a sovereign, government, leader, cause, etc.
source/more: Dictionary.com
Manners
source/more: Dictionary.com
Mercy
1. compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence
2. the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment
3. an act of kindness, compassion, or favor
e.g.: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.
source/more: Dictionary.com
Moderation
source/more: Dictionary.com
Modesty
1. the quality of being modest; freedom from vanity, boastfulness, etc.
2. regard for decency of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
source/more: Dictionary.com
Morality
1. conformity to the rules of right conduct; moral or virtuous conduct
2. The quality of being in accord with standards of right or good conduct
source/more: Dictionary.com
Nonviolence
source/more: Dictionary.com
Nurturing
1. to feed and protect
2. to support and encourage
3. rearing, upbringing, training, education, or development
source/more: Dictionary.com
Obedience
1. the act or practice of obeying; dutiful or submissive compliance
source/more: Dictionary.com
Openness
1. acting publicly or without concealment, as a person
2. without restrictions as to who may participate
3. unreserved, candid, or frank, as persons or their speech, aspect, etc.
source/more: Dictionary.com
Optimism
source/more: Dictionary.com
Patience
(hero: Susan B. Anthony)
1. the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like
2. an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay
source/more: Dictionary.com
Peacefulness
source/more: Dictionary.com
Perfection
source/more: Dictionary.com
Perseverance
(hero: Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta)
1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement
source/more: Dictionary.com
Piety
1. reverence for God or devout fulfillment of religious obligations
2. dutiful respect or regard for parents, homeland, etc.
source/more: Dictionary.com
Potential
1. capable of being or becoming
2. a latent excellence or ability
source/more: Dictionary.com
Prudence
1. caution with regard to practical matters; discretion
2. provident care in the management of resources; economy; frugality
source/more: Dictionary.com
Purity
source/more: Dictionary.com
Purposefulness
source/more: Dictionary.com
Reliability
(hero: Harriet Tubman)
1. quality of that may be relied on; dependable in achievement, accuracy, honesty, etc.
source/more: Dictionary.com
Respectfulness
source/more: Dictionary.com
Responsibility
(hero: George Washington)
1. the state or fact of being answerable or accountable, as for something within one's power, control, or management
2. reliability or dependability, esp. in meeting debts or payments
source/more: Dictionary.com
Restraint
source/more: Dictionary.com
Sacrifice
source/more: Dictionary.com
Self-awareness
1. Aware of oneself, including one's traits, feelings, and behaviors
2. understanding your own individuality
source/more: Dictionary.com
Self-discipline
source/more: Dictionary.com
Self-esteem
source/more: Dictionary.com
Self-reliance
source/more: Dictionary.com
Self-respect
source/more: Dictionary.com
Sensitivity
1. the state or quality of being able to understand another person's feelings
2. aware of what is happening around you in subtle ways
source/more: Dictionary.com
Service
(hero: Benjamin Franklin)
1. an act of helpful activity; help; aid
2. the performance of duties or the duties
3. the serving of a sovereign, state, or government in some official capacity
source/more: Dictionary.com
Sharing
source/more: Dictionary.com
Sincerity
source/more: Dictionary.com
Spirituality
source/more: Dictionary.com
Steadfastness
(hero: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
1. fixed in direction; steadily directed
2. firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment, etc., as a person
3. unwavering, as resolution, faith, adherence, etc.
source/more: Dictionary.com
Sympathy
source/more: Dictionary.com
Tactfulness
source/more: Dictionary.com
Temperance
source/more: Dictionary.com
Thankfulness
source/more: Dictionary.com
Tolerance
1. a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry
2. a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own
3. interest in and concern for ideas, opinions, practices, etc., foreign to one's own; a liberal, undogmatic viewpoint
source/more: Dictionary.com
Trustworthiness
source/more: Dictionary.com
Truthfulness
source/more: Dictionary.com
Understanding
1. to perceive the meaning of; grasp the idea of; comprehend
2. to grasp the significance, implications, or importance of
3. to perceive what is meant; grasp the information conveyed
source/more: Dictionary.com
Unselfishness
1. not selfish; disinterested; generous; altruistic
2. consideration of others before oneself
source/more: Dictionary.com
Wisdom
1. the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight
2. scholarly knowledge or learning
3. teachings; precepts
source/more: Dictionary.com
Wonder
(hero: Albert Einstein)
1. to be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe; marvel
2. to think or speculate curiously
3. the emotion excited by what is strange and surprising; a feeling of surprised or puzzled interest, sometimes tinged with admiration
source/more: Dictionary.com
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We have collected an extended list of virtues for your information. Please remember, each "hero" demonstrates one or more virtues, each at varying degrees and with varying results. These virtues, when lived in our lives, help us create a better world for ourselves and others. We invite you to consider the words in this list within the context of your life and your beliefs.