Carlo Ossola

Les Vertus Communes Carlo Ossola

English summary: The aim of this book is not to describe the great heroic virtues that demand abnegation and dwell within the realm of the sublime. "Common virtues" concern our daily lives, and their tenets are basic: do not seek to be influential, remain discreet by being modest, and respect this earnest restraint that forms the core of our society. Carlo Ossola invites us to pursue the path of wisdom, stopping along the way to explore twelve minor virtues: congeniality, prudence, gentleness, honesty, loyalty, gratitude, foresight, politeness, moderation, calmness, constancy, and generosity, which we should exercise every day: at work, within our family circles, and with ourselves, in order to help each of us transform our ordinary life into a happy one. French description: Il n'est pas question ici des grandes vertus heroiques qui demandent de l'abnegation et qui participent du sublime. Les vertus communes concernent notre vie quotidienne, et leur vocabulaire est minime: ne pas peser sur la terre, s'en tenir a la discretion de ne pas apparaitre, a cette retenue pleine d'empressement qui est le centre de la vie sociale.