Full Idea
The civil virtues moderate the passions; their object is to teach us to live in conformity with the laws of human nature.
Gist of Idea
Civil virtues control the passions, and make us conform to our nature
Source
Porphyry (Launching Points to the Realm of the Mind [c.280], 1Enn2 I.2)
Book Reference
Porphyry: 'Launching Points to the Realm of the Mind', ed/tr. Guthrie,Kenneth [Phanes 1988], p.28
A Reaction
The link with human nature is basic to virtue theory, but this proposal is rather too vague. Are passions not part of the laws of human nature?