This particular context was catechizing children, not personal moral behavior.
But the principle applies in so many contexts. Building the foundation right, even though it is muddy and smelly and hard and boring and will probably never really be seen, is essential for doing well with anything, including virtue. And I expect that virtue will be of great help in catechizing children. But also, dogged devotion to catechizing children *right*, will be of great help in developing personal virtue.
> doggedly devoted to the basics for the long haul
So, virtue? (In the Aristotelian sense, of course)
This particular context was catechizing children, not personal moral behavior.
But the principle applies in so many contexts. Building the foundation right, even though it is muddy and smelly and hard and boring and will probably never really be seen, is essential for doing well with anything, including virtue. And I expect that virtue will be of great help in catechizing children. But also, dogged devotion to catechizing children *right*, will be of great help in developing personal virtue.
Ah, I mostly meant this in the sense of "human virtues are habits" (ST I-II q. 55 art. 1 co.)
Oh, I see. But does that make all good habits virtues?
As long as "good" really means "good" then yeah I'd say so (though they may not be cardinal or theological virtues).