Horses & Virtues
If we first consider the idiom of "putting the cart before the horse," let's take a slightly different look at it. Do you need the cart to hold belongings? Do you need the horse to pull the cart? …or must we first acquire the belongings to make the cart necessary?
What skills or knowledge is necessary to acquire those belongings? What makes an individual deserving of a cart, a horse, belongings, knowledge, skills?
When considering the differences in what makes an individual virtuous, a similar consideration must be made. Do the actions define what makes a person good or bad, through right and wrong actions? Does the intention and purpose, or mental state of an individual define their likeness to virtue? The argument can certainly be made that actions are more measurable and therefore, decisive. But if it is living a life of virtue that we are working towards, shouldn't the emphasis be placed on an inner state (mental, emotional)? At what point does one become virtuous? At death when they can no longer tarnish their virtuousness? Or is there a continued journey with no true goal, but simply living a life of virtue?
Consider people in your life or in history that have lived a life of virtue. Have they never made a mistake, a poor choice, a lapse in judgement? Have we forgiven some wrongdoing because intentions were pure, and the (overwhelming) majority of actions, words spoken, ideas conceived, and moments shared were illustrative of that virtue? To conclude:
"It takes 20 years to build a reputation and 5 minutes to ruin it." - Warren Buffett