Ideas of Critias, by Theme

[Greek, c.480 - 403 BCE, Born in Athens. A sophist.]

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23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / e. Character

541	Virtue comes more from habit than character
	Full Idea: More men are good through habit than through character.
	From: Critias (fragments/reports [c.440 BCE], B09), quoted by John Stobaeus - Anthology 3.29.41

28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 5. Atheism

542	Fear of the gods was invented to discourage secret sin
	Full Idea: When the laws forbade men to commit open crimes of violence, and they began to do them in secret, a wise and clever man invented fear of the gods for mortals, to frighten the wicked, even if they sin in secret.
	From: Critias (fragments/reports [c.440 BCE], B25), quoted by Sextus Empiricus - Against the Professors (six books) 9.54