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The term "cardinal" comes from the Latin ''cardo'' or hinge; the cardinal virtues are so called because they are hinges upon which the door of the moral life swings. Plato identified them with the classes of the city described in the Republic , and with the faculties of man. Temperance was associated with the producing classes, the farmers and craftsmen, and with the animal appetites; '''fortitude''' with the warrior class and with the spirited element in man; '''prudence''' with the rulers and with reason. '''Justice''' stands outside the class system and divisions of man, and rules the proper relationship among the three of them. It may have been taken up from there into Jewish philosophy; Wisdom 8:7 reads, "She {Link without Title} teacheth temperance, and prudence, and justice, and fortitude, which are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in life." It was certainly taken up in Christianity, as St. Augustine, discussing the morals of the church, described them:
These "cardinal" virtues are not the same as the , also known as the heavenly virtues. HISTORY OF THE VIRTUES While history suggests that the first four date back to Greek philosophers and were applicable to all people seeking to live moral lives, the ''theological virtues'' appear to be specific to Christian s as written by Paul in The New Testament . In Genesis, Chapter 28 Jacob describes his vision of a ladder or stairway leading to heaven. In oral tradition, the three principal rungs on the ladder were denominated Faith, Hope and Love. (The King James Version of the Bible uses "charity," but "charity" was derived from ''caritas,'' or "love.") These three are mentioned in Chapter 13 of First Corinthians: ''And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.'' Because of this reference, the seven attributes are sometimes grouped as four cardinal virtues (prudence, temperance, fortitude, justice) and three heavenly graces (faith, hope, charity). The cardinal virtues are distinguished from the ," are pride, avarice (greed), envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth. DEPICTIONS OF THE VIRTUES The Cardinal Virtues are often depicted as female Allegorical Figures and were a popular subject for funerary sculpture. The attributes and names of these figures may vary according to local tradition. On the tomb of Sir John Hotham, in St Mary's Church, South Dalton the four figures are:
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