civic virtues
Public-minded moral qualities
Civic virtues are the qualities and habits that make someone a good citizen—honesty, public-spiritedness, respect for law, willingness to participate in democratic processes.
The term implies that citizenship carries moral responsibilities beyond mere legal compliance: Civic virtues like voting and jury duty sustain democratic institutions.
Often invoked in discussions of education and political philosophy.
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- citizenshipStatus as state member
- good citizenLaw-abiding community participant
- public spiritDevotion to community welfare
- voteFormal choice expression
accountability · duty · moral duty · paying taxes · trustworthiness · cooperation · solidarity · benevolence · stewardship · common good · justice · volunteerism · temperance · prudence · transparency · rule of law · magnanimity · deliberation
- civicsballot, election, ballots, Bill of Rights, branches of government
- civic engagementcitizen participation, voting, public participation, participatory democracy, democratic participation
- Franklin Worksautobiography, political essays, satires, bagatelles, scientific papers
- moral educationmoral education, moral instruction, character education, moral development, moral lessons
civic virtuesself-interest
Concern for personal advantage
egoism · selfishness · greed · atomism · narcissism
civic virtuespolitical apathy
Indifference to governance
indifference · voter apathy · anomie · withdrawal · alienation
civic virtuescorruption
Dishonest abuse of power
venality · demagoguery · factionalism · sedition · tyranny