Kings and thieves can steal material belongings and even take life. But a virtuous person is able to live and die with a clear conscience — something that no amount of money or political influence can buy.

"The Buddha listed virtue as one of a person’s greatest treasures. Kings and thieves can steal your material belongings and even take your life, but they can’t take your virtue. If it’s uncompromising, your virtue protects you from any true danger from now until you reach nirvana.

Even if you’re not ready to accept the teaching on karma and rebirth, the Buddha still recommended an absolute standard of virtue. As he told the Kalamas, if you decide to act skillfully at all times, harming no one, then even if it turned out that there was no life after death, you’d still come out ahead, for you would have been able to live and die with a clear conscience — something that no amount of money or political influence can buy."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Getting the Message"

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