Descent And Virtue

Σπέρματος γένος, καὶ αἴματος κόμπος, ὦ ἄριστε, ποιντῶν οὐκ ἔστιν ἀρετὴ, ἀλλ' ἀκούσιός τις διαδοχὴ ἐκ σωμάτων καταγομένη καὶ ῥέουσα. Ἀρετὴ δὲ, φρόνησις ἐστι, δικαιοσύην τε καὶ ἀνδρεία, καὶ σωφροσύνη. Ὅς ἄν οὖν ἔχηται τούτων, καὶ πάγκαλός ἐστι, καὶ περίβλεπτος, καὶ οὐδενὸς πρὸς εὐζωῖεν λειπόμενος. Ἅγιος Ἰσίδωρος Του Πηλουσιώτου, Ἐπιστολή Ὠφελιῳ Γραμματικῳ

Family lineage and boasts of blood, excellent fellow, are not workers of virtue, for that which comes down from bodies falls and flows away. But virtue is prudence, righteousness, fortitude and temperance. He who has these is most fair and resplendent and he lacks nothing of the good life. Saint Isidore of Pelusium, Letter to Ophelius the Scholar