The Pursuit of Virtue and Moral Excellence
The pursuit of purity as the highest ideal of morality implies not only the elimination of sins and negative qualities, but also the active cultivation and deep-rooting of virtues in the soul. This self-improvement challenges a person not merely to conform to a given ideal, but ultimately to surpass others precisely through the manifestation of virtue. In the process of purifying the soul and fostering one’s best qualities, an inner drive emerges to prove one’s moral superiority—not so much through inherent worth or dignity, but rather through the diligent effort to eliminate negativity and establish the highest moral standards.