Which word means moral excellence and the quality of being morally good?

• A. Virtues
• B. Wants
• C. Values
• D. Norms

Answer: (A)

Virtues are the character traits that people strive to embody when they act morally. They describe qualities like honesty, courage, kindness, and fairness—traits that show moral excellence and guide actions toward what's morally good. Wants are simply desires or cravings and don’t speak to moral quality. Values are beliefs about what’s important, which guide decisions but aren’t themselves the measure of moral goodness. Norms are the accepted rules of behavior in a group, which may be moral or not, but they describe expected behavior rather than the inherent quality of being morally good. Because virtues specifically capture the idea of moral excellence in a person’s character, they are the best fit.